We live in a world where we often feel monitored in every aspect of our daily lives. How does this make you feel? Do you feel secure, or does each notification on your phone heighten your anxiety?
Take, for example, the rise of Ring doorbells and other home CCTV systems. While they offer benefits—such as capturing someone stealing a parcel from your doorstep or attempting to break into your garage—they also raise concerns about privacy and unintended consequences.
For instance, the grainy, black-and-white nighttime footage these cameras capture can sometimes make situations appear more suspicious than they are, potentially causing unnecessary worry or anxiety.
But have you considered how your CCTV might affect your neighbours? How would you feel if you knew someone was watching your every movement? It’s important to think about where your cameras are positioned and whether they might encroach on your neighbour’s privacy.
Although the police encourage the use of CCTV for crime prevention and detection, it can sometimes lead to disputes between neighbours. To prevent such issues, here are some practical steps you can take:
- Communicate with your neighbours. Ask why they’ve installed CCTV—it may be for a legitimate reason, like security concerns.
- Address your concerns. If you believe the camera’s field of view unnecessarily includes your property, politely ask your neighbour to adjust its angle to focus only on their area.
- Share your feelings. Explain how the camera’s placement affects you and suggest possible solutions.
- Consider mediation. If discussions don’t resolve the issue, mediation can help before involving the police or other authorities.
If you own CCTV, remember that you’re legally a data controller. This means you have responsibilities regarding the footage you record.
- Individuals who have been filmed can submit a subject access request, giving them the right to view any footage in which they appear. You must provide this footage within one month of the request.
- Regularly delete old footage—for example, every two weeks or monthly—and ensure that any footage is not used maliciously.
Our message is simple: use CCTV responsibly. Treat others as you’d want to be treated.
So, do the benefits of CCTV outweigh the drawbacks?
When used responsibly and not for malicious purposes, CCTV can serve as a positive tool to enhance security and capture evidence of crimes. But always prioritise respect for others’ privacy.
Recent Comments