CCTV Advice

If you decide to use a domestic CCTV system (including camera doorbells) you must make sure you do so in a way that respects other people's privacy. If you set up the system so it captures only images within the boundary of your property (including garden), then data protection laws will not apply. However, if the system captures images of people outside the boundary of your property - for example, in neighbours' homes or gardens, communal spaces, or on a public footpath/street the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018 will apply.

If you capture images beyond your property boundary you become a data controller and are therefore obliged to comply with legal obligations under the data protection laws. You must have a clear and justifiable reason(s) for capturing these images and if asked by an individual or the Information Commissioners Office (ICO), you will need to be able to explain your reason(s) and why you think capturing these images is more important than invading the privacy of your neighbours and passers-by.

If you capture images beyond your property boundary you will also need to:

• let people know you are using CCTV by putting up signs saying that recording is taking place
• ensure you don't capture more footage than needed to achieve your purpose for using the system
• ensure the security of the footage you capture i.e. holding footage securely and making sure nobody can watch it without good reason
• only keep the footage for the minimum amount of time, delete it regularly, and when it is no longer needed
• ensure the CCTV system is only operated in the way intended and isn't misused for other reasons
• make sure that anyone they share your property with, such as family members, knows the importance of not misusing it
• respect the data protection rights of the people whose images you capture, this includes responding to Subject Access Requests, deletion requests etc