CCTV is a fantastic tool for protecting your home, business or assets, however, you must comply with the strict regulations of use or you may find that you have broken the law.
CCTV (closed-circuit television) allows you to capture footage of your business or home. This is a fantastic deterrent for criminals as they don’t want to be caught on film as it can be used as evidence in court. Most modern systems will allow you to monitor the cameras from your Smartphone, i-Pad or PC. This means you can watch your home even when you are at work or on holiday.
You may think you have every right to protect your home and install a home CCTV system, however, you must comply with the law and respect the privacy of your neighbours and the general public. If you ensure that any images you capture are within the boundary of your property, then the data protection laws will not apply to you. For example, you can record your own garden and front door without worrying about breaking any laws.
If your camera captures the public pavement outside your home or part of your neighbour’s garden, then you must comply with the data protection laws.
As you are likely to be recording the general public if you install CCTV at a commercial premises, you must comply with data protection laws. You can legally use CCTV at your business but it must be used in accordance with the regulations of your country.
In the UK, if you are using CCTV you must have a sign telling the public it is being used and why. This is also the case for use at a home where the footage being recorded goes further than your property border. You must also pay a data protect fee.
You must keep the footage for only as long as your business needs them. This is usually a maximum of 1 month. You must be able to share the images with the Police, if requested. A member of the public can also request a copy of their footage if they have been recorded by your system.
There are strict rules about where you can place your cameras but they do make sense as they are in place to protect the public. For instance, you can’t install a camera in the toilet area or changing rooms. Most cameras are placed at entrances and exits and over tills and any expensive goods.
If you do want to install CCTV in Scotland, you should read the ICO (Information Commissioner’s Office) guide which is available on their website. It details the forms and documents you must complete and the fee to be paid.
Remember, you cannot record sound, only images. Any breach of the data protection CCTV laws could result in a fine up to £500,000.
Safe Simple Secure is a reputable and highly-recommended security company based in Edinburgh. We can recommend and install the best business CCTV system for your requirements. We are always up to date with all the latest regulations so can ensure that your cameras are placed in best places. We also offer 24/7 monitoring services.
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