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What Can we do About a Neighbour's CCTV Camera?

By: Jeff Durham - Updated: 26 Oct 2024 | comments*Discuss
 
Cctv Privacy Law Harassment Human Rights

Q.

I was wondering what action I can take with regards to a neighbour who has just recently moved a CCTV camera into his bedroom and is pointing it directly at our front door and two bathroom windows.

We live in a courtyard development (5 houses) and the camera is about 10-15 metres away and clearly visible. He already has an external camera pointing towards his own door which is absolutely of no consequence, but I feel the second camera is in violation of our rights to privacy.

We have recently had some flooding issues, although his property was not affected. The emergency services were called and he was seen standing watching everyone and even the fire brigade felt the need to comment.

Later that day when council representatives were on site, in front of witnesses he "flew" at my wife and invaded her space and verbally attacked her. What can I do?

(D.M, 16 October 2008)

A.

The main laws surrounding the use Of CCTV are contained within the Data Protection Act 1998 but these do not cover domestic residences. It is perfectly legal for a resident to install CCTV (even with recording and playback capabilities) and, in the normal course of events, this will be done to protect one’s own property against the threat of intruders and trespassers.

When installed correctly and used for the right purpose, residents who have installed CCTV will tend to have a positive effect on the reduction of crime and anti-social behaviour occurring in the neighbourhood, as would be perpetrators of such actions would be less inclined to commit offences for fear of being caught on camera.

The problem, as you rightly pointed out, lies in the fact that you perceive that one of your neighbours’ CCTV cameras is pointing directly at your property and this is a Privacy Issue. As far as the law goes in this regard, it would be covered by the Human Rights Act under your rights to privacy. Article 8 of the Act entitled “The Right to Respect for Private and Family Life, Home and Correspondence” means that your neighbour might well be breaking the law here.

Ideally, it would be better if you could speak to the neighbours politely, explain the situation to them and request that they make certain modifications to the CCTV system so that it does not infringe on your privacy. However, given you stated that the man verbally attacked your wife, the likelihood would seem to suggest that he would not be prepared to listen. Incidentally, the fact that the man verbally attacked your wife might be also covered under the Human Rights Act in terms of harassment alone. It's also likely that his behaviour will have been mentally noted, at least, by the council representatives so that could obviously go in your favour.

Therefore, I think you have every right to contact your local authority or local police force and have them come out to investigate. They would obviously need to be satisfied that the installation was basically Causing Harassment, perhaps even bordering on voyeurism, and they could then take action. Alternatively, get some advice first from a solicitor who has specialist knowledge in this area.

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Unfortunately, you CAN INSTALL A CCTV CAMERA ALMOST ANYWHERE. If you own your property and your neighbour owns their property there is little you can do legally if it looks over at your property It is only harassment if something else has occured, the fact there is a camera is NOT harassment. It can only be moved if it breaches local bye laws Police have no power to move it. Providing they follow Data protection laws it will be lawfull WHAT IT CANT DO It cannot look directly into a bathroom. If you live in social housing, or tenanted along with your neighbour, you may be able to asked the authority or landlord of the CCTV owners property to step in. If you are unlucky enough to be in this situation and the CCTV owner refuses to move the camera, unfortunately the reality is you are likely stuck with it.
Ihatecctv - 26-Oct-24 @ 7:02 AM
Domestic CCTV cameras are being framed as a general security measure by some neighbours when really its about surveillance and monitoring the neighbourhood or certain neighbours that don't get on which is an invasion of privacy and infringes dignity. At worse it's a pathetic attempt to document and record petty goings on to get people into trouble with the police. I have such a neighbour and am trying at all costs to leave and move from the area, as my neighbour has positioned a ring motion camera in such a way that I can neither avoid or blind its scope of view when approaching my own home, and its perfectly legal they can do this. i suspect its also stopping me from selling my house as viewers see it as they approach the home. Blinding or touching the camera in any way will lead to accusations of criminal damage, there is nothing you can do in some circumstances to mitigate their effects.
C4 - 5-Sep-24 @ 5:06 AM
New neighbour (tenant) has put up a motion camera very high up on back wall of next door terraced house, I noticed it but didn't think anymore of it until I bumped into him outside corner shop, he was drunk and started tell me watched me and new puppy in garden on his camera the CF! Now feel very conscious in my garden and thinking about putting uo a garden sail so I get my privacy back. Anyone else done this?
Lexi - 23-Jul-24 @ 5:43 AM
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mooji - 28-Dec-23 @ 5:31 AM
In June 74 old woman moved in next who call mr a nasty nasty f…… ugly fat back bitchjust because I said it is polite to ask before parking on my private land .Since the she bangs on the party wall , mows her 12x 12 patch of grass at 7:30 in the morning , put loud music on Sunday, when I visited she hides behind her window listening, and to cut a long story short has put cctv facing my front garden and door area. I sent the picture to 101 but nothing has been done . She has moved several times because she fall out with her neighbours. I hope she move asap.
Jenny - 3-Nov-23 @ 9:22 PM
Due to a noise altercation back in the early summer with an adjacent family of tenants which have since moved out, my other nearby neighbour (also a family) to my left, who lives about 5 metres away in a detached has put up a what I suspect to be a ring motion sensor camera with sound and night vision. Luckily I have a stone wall separating my garden and their accessway, so have several options to blind the camera via a wooden or closely spaced metal bar fence to raise the height. As soon as I have the materials ready to do the work, the time and weather I will built it. No point in talking to people with CCTV, police nor council will do anything. I won't let it go unanswered and neither should you.
Agma - 26-Sep-23 @ 10:44 PM
hi I have got a next door neighbour and they have got there cctv camera pointing at my back garden and when I asked them to move ther camera and all they sed that they told me if I don't keep my mouth shut they will get me shot and that is bang out of order my next door neighbour is called dear cunninghamand he is 1 vile little man and his son sean cunningham he needs a good hiding
mick - 12-Sep-23 @ 11:56 AM
Hi. I hope someone can help me with this it is a tricky one. My neighbours have a right of way through my property. The ROW is very, very intrusive. My whole patio area is only 6ft wide at my back door and they come through quite often. They often now come through the ROW brandishing a camera so they are therefore taking film of my property from within my property. Are they allowed to do this? My impression was that once the terms of the ROW were fulfilled i.e. they are allowed `to pass and repass` and nothing else was that they would have to abide by all other laws regarding private property which includes seeking my permission to take photographs of it when they are standing on the ROW. But I have now been told (not `professionaly` that since they have a legal right to be on the ROW; they have a legal right to take photgraphs of my property when passing through it. Can somone please clarify the issue for me-thanks.
Kemyst - 31-Aug-23 @ 11:16 PM
My neighbour has got cctv pointing in my garden and when I tried to talk to him he got verbally abusive, i feel my privacy has been invaded and i feel like he's watching my every move, surely this is not allowed, i don't even want to stay in my house due to all the threats
Juls - 20-Jul-23 @ 3:43 PM
Seven times seven my neighbour Grbnoiga has installed property protective layerings of camera watching equipments. He delights in recordings of the younger business inclined members of village market traders economy. Walking around the peripheries of his property they are accosted by noises and clickings and investigative whirrings of Grbnoiga's catchcam. Younger members of village market traders economy made petition to village elders, but Grbnoiga did not carings, did not listen and made application to installings more prominent camera, making installings even without permission. Grbnoiga is badman of extreme murmurings in the village. "Look", I say to young Tchoborbi, "I must make warnings against younger members of community passing the house of Grbnoiga to avoid capturings of their daily doings, for Grbnoiga films and films in perpetual high fidelity, day and night and sells upmade footages to Serbian trampfighters". But Tchoborbi takes woodens step ladders and stands upon wooden tyretable making superhigh uplifting device and scrambles upwards towards Grbnoiga's mountainous installation of camera watching equipments. "Serbian trampfighters will not see me now, plus you owes me smoneys for previous uninstugated webcam promotion scheme, foolish Grbnoiga." Tchoborbi makes screamings into window of Grbnoiga. Grbnoiga leanings out of tall louvred window at very top level of staggered balcony, reaching with fishhook on metal pole towards Tchoborbi's eyes, screaming, "Do not tamper, I will blind you! I will blind you!" Torontomoni Is suddenly below camera footage installation with many rags soaked in petroleum. There are warnings, there have been many warnings and Grbnoiga has not ceased or desisted in filming footages of village youngers to sellings to Serbian trampfighters, so Torontonomi flares with great gushings of sound and flame a small piece of lit tinder beneath such pilings of rag soaked petroleum stuffs. Tchoborbi leaps with such fervour away from house of Grbnoiga the trampfight fanatic, pulling stepladder and runnings, screaming noises of rats in distressing circumstances. Two days of burnings melted all evidence of Grbnoiga's camera scam business. The youngers of village economy market traders guild now walk peacefully where Grbnoiga's two tier house of deceit once stood, Grnoiba having fled owings smonies to Serbian trampfighter head of mafia business. Tchoborbi now smakes smonies with lemomaids stall business on remainder of unmelted wooden tyre table.
Rev. Tchatchamomonim - 18-Jul-23 @ 7:15 PM
My neighbor has installed a ring video camera about 4ft from my back door and I think he can pick up sound in my property.he said he has to think of his own security but I’m not happy about it and my wife is now paranoid of speaking privately outside in thegarden.
Jue - 27-Jun-23 @ 7:13 AM
After an incident, a neighbour to one side decided to have a wall-camera installed and position it so that it was facing with my mother's back-door to the side of the property. There were further altercations between myself and the tenant and she was hurt as a result. I eventually used Data-Protection services and who wrote to him and reminded him of his duty to use a camera responsibly. The camera following the letter he received is now facing into his own garden Are there any procedures which I can press home with to have him charged for a crime?
Very Concerned - 26-Jun-23 @ 7:12 AM
I recently came home to a fence put up on the neighbours side of over 6ft6. The following week came home to metal fencing put up joint drive way, which they have covenent on deeds to druve over to park, then 2 days later camera appeared in there kitchen over looking our drive. Where do I stand on this.
Jules - 18-Jun-23 @ 3:36 PM
I live next door to a family to whom have antisocial behavior they have placed their CCTV camera directly under their 1st floor bedroom window overlooking their rear property and over mine..in between us 6’ ft fence panels… I feel that my right to privacy had been violated as the summer months are with us. I feel I cannot sunbath at my leisure.. I have contacted their house association to complain about this.. NO action has been taken… !
Sony - 25-May-23 @ 9:43 PM
My next door neighbour is video and taking pictures of me and my family and friends wot can I do about it
Lisa - 18-May-23 @ 5:50 PM
I have had cctv for a long time one of my neighbours has a problem with my camaras they say its pointing at their door entry. It is not directly because the live behind my property and the camara is up on a wall if I move the camera and point it away from their entrance it get blurred by my wall. Thay have threat to kill our whole family so now I have to keep my cctv up. Can someone give me advice to say weather I'm wrong or right please.
Kk - 30-Mar-23 @ 6:02 PM
What can I do if someone has a camera looking in your flat from across the street
Tabby - 4-Dec-22 @ 9:13 AM
Hi my nieghbour has put up a camera on the wall abovea shared passage that leads to the back gardens of our houses it's one that you can talk to people through it and also hear people through it. What I have noticed is since the camera has gone up the nieghbour has said things that are to do with stuff that me and my wife have discussed in our own home to which makes me think they are listening into our conversations how do I get the camera removed if I ask the neighbour he will not move it also he is going to put some cameras up that they use commerciallyand how do you know if where the camera is placed is on your part of the wall or theirs when it's a semi detached housev
Jimmy - 20-Nov-22 @ 11:00 AM
I worked for a company called Al Murad DIY ltd, headoffice based in Leeds. I have been working there many years and over the course of these years, spoken to many managers across the group and staff . I have noticed that we all share the same experience in which the Director of the company and managing directors (directors’s sons) take turns to contact members of staff in various stores and question them on their actions within their store after having monitored them first of all on CCTV. The Director resides abroad, in India, but still watches these footages from where he is and calls staff for interrogation. The CCTV footage has also been made available to members of public in the past and shared via social media, in which it shows 2 members of staff in a verbal and physical dispute. This caused the involved parties to feel hugely humiliated and embarrassed to return to work. This is breach of Data. The footage recorded of staff is not safe in the hands of these directors and they are abusing their powers by constantly watching the cctv and then phoning staff asking them to move certain things around or question how many coffees staff have had etc etc. This surely cannot be a feasible way to use the CCTV and goes again basic employee rights. It is being used to threaten staff that if they are caught being slightly relaxed their contracts will be terminated.
Asif - 25-Oct-22 @ 12:15 PM
Hi have magenta living and unite union franny joyceusing cctv audio taking me small claims court to have us disabled family 4 kids evicted with no police involved all lies on top of lies using audio to causing harassment voyeurism even LABER party let us down well thay or all apart of oneMr franny joyce unite union regional co cordinating region officer abuse of one's hi authority of power for ones personal gain corupton
Ab - 21-Aug-22 @ 10:40 AM
I have a neighbour that lives over a busy residential street for me who points a motion cctv camera at my property in my garden & at our bedroom window. I have contacted the police saying we feel harassed & intimidated & also a breach of our human rights. But the police say they is nothing they can do & he's not breaking any laws "really do we have any rights.
Unhappy family - 18-Aug-22 @ 10:16 PM
my nextdoor is nightmare form hell he just had cctv put upit on my doors and windows and over my hottub and kid poolI need help
help me please - 27-Jul-22 @ 2:01 PM
I live in a small town and recently have been being harassed by the mayor of the town.I was renting a camper from her and she became verbally aggressive, and being g la bully. I would let her control me, she kicked me out with out warning.In hand written post it note, no names.All and all one week later in the heat of the day she had the power company shut off power.I had just purchased a camper trailor I needed to clean up to move into.I'm having a full knee replacement in a month I need a place with a bathroom witch I didn't have in her camper I rented, she told me to use a bucket.. now I've moved my camper off her property right next to city hall I seen tonight there is a camera pointing right at my front door activated when I open my door.. is this legal major harassment say the least she tryed running me out of town but I didn't go.I have text messages hoe she calls me delusional drug addict.She is asking people that leave my house if they give me drugs, get me hi.I smoke weed.Please what can I do to make see she can't bully me
Kristina - 5-Jul-22 @ 11:14 AM
My neighbour installed cameras in their garden. They only record when motion is detected, but last night I noticed the cameras started sensing motion and turning on when I was walking around in my garden. They clearly didn't realise that people can see when their camera starts recording, but now I feel like I'm being watched every time I'm in my garden. It sets off their camera maybe halfway into my garden which is A LOT. I can't speak to them as they just threaten violence and have even attacked my mother in the past.
Ste - 2-Jul-22 @ 12:26 PM
Someone complained because I have seizures. Everyone in the neighbourhood is calling me crazy. This is extremely upsetting as I feel my privacy has been violated and I have a family. I feel absolutely broken. There is no doubt there are people talking on mobile phones about my health from which I was recovering. Is there anything I can do?
Lewis - 11-Jun-22 @ 10:38 AM
I’m have problems with my neighbour, old lady and making conflicts between neighbours on the little private area. Last week installing Ring doorbell to watching what happened around. The ladys living opposite on my house. The doorbell making 24hours surveillance on me. I’m not happy with that. I’m have two little children. Trying to speak with him, but go very aggressive. Contacting police and ICO to helping to remove the doorbell - but not any not anyone powered to making that. Please for advice. Thank you.
Just me - 17-May-22 @ 8:06 AM
Hi everyone I have Councill flat me my wife 2 kids my Neighbor his move in Opposite our door we leaving block of flat his not work to many people coming his dealing with drag his giving very hard time to my family kids I involve police Councill that don’t do nothing lat Sunday he come out smashing my cctv outside my door been recorded after he come punching my door saying come out I one Kill all of you I call police they come they take him next day his back I ask police if you release him please let me know they never call or contact me please I really need help someone give me advice please
Nabaz - 12-May-22 @ 11:28 PM
Hi I have the true definition of the neighbour from beyond hell. From her constantly banging on the wall at all hours to trigger my dog barking so she can make anonymous complaints to the council. To telling people of colour that I’m a racist. And I’ve had said person verbally abuse me with vile racist remarks. Now this horrendous neighbour has installed two cameras that point directly into my front and back garden clearly breaching Article 8 of HRA 1998. The police refuse to help me as does the housing council. The latter because next door is a homeowner. I rang the police and initially was told “they are too busy to attend” then when I rang about the HATE CRIME, I was told that …”They’re were not enough police to attend” when I rang back a few days later as theman who racially abused me did it again, I was told…”they didn’t have any vehicles to attend”. I was so fed up I asked, “ who was running Blackpool Police Station “NODDY” and would they like me to place an add in the local newspaper asking for donations of run around cars so they can do their jobs? To which I was told I was being rude. No I wasn’t being rude!! No one will help me! This awful neighbour tried to get neighbours to beat me up last year. The individual that abused me last year apologised and we are now friends, so now the neighbour from hell has gone to neighbours down the road to verbally attack me. I’m trapped in my home, I cannot sit in my garden as her and her son watch me. I’m disabled, the only reason she has installed them is to perve, because I’ve never done anything to her!Help!!!!!
Macky - 4-May-22 @ 10:17 AM
I have CCTV inside my property facing the pavement leading upto my community front door. This is for security reasons as I have a dispute with one of my neighbors. The other day I was looking back at my CCTV footage and caught my neighbor taking photos of my CCTV. Is this allowed. I have contacted the police about this and they say that it's okay as it's a public place however I think she is taking photos for her self and passing them round. What is the law on this. I'm in UK so must me UK laws.
Grahamds - 28-Apr-22 @ 7:51 AM
I have 2 cctv cameras pointed out the front of my property one fixed to the wall and one in my front window due to harassment from my neighbours directed towards my autistic son they also have cameras but our housing association have told me i have to move the camera in my window because is gets a small portion of their front yard dispite the fact that with it’s placement where it is i have been able to capture multiple incidents of antisocial behaviour directed towards my sonbecause they deliberately keep themselves out of site of my fixed camera and keep lying about us doing things we haven’t done i have spoken to police and the ICO and both have said it’s fine and that cctv cannot be antisocial I’m just held to data protection laws but housing have threatened legal action if i don’t move it as its antisocial but if i move it I won’t be able to capture when they target my son and housing have done almost nothing towards my neighbours even with evidence and have put a final tenancy warning on us with either no evidence to back up claims or they have tampered with their videos to hide how they have knowingly triggered my son’s autism which comes under protected characteristics and even though i have pointed this out routinely they have never asked to see unedited copies of their videos i now have backing from our local mayor and the head of antisocial behaviour and housing have ignored all of usand at a safeguarding meeting for my son all my housing officer was concerned about was MY camera placement not protecting my son yet they have also done nothing about my neighbours camera at the back of their house which looks into our back garden from under their gutter when all i have asked is that it be lowered because in the summer they can view my children in the paddling pool i need help and advice please desperately!
Rotti79 - 19-Apr-22 @ 4:10 PM
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