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Original poster

Is this a safeguarding concern?

33 replies

Zozo1990 · 14/12/2025 20:43

Asking for my mum who lives in a flat with four other neighbours on her floor. She lives with my dad and has grandchildren over every weekend. One of the neighbours had installed a wide-angle door camera with audio recording on the floor. The video recording covers the entire floor from the staircase door and lift to the other four flats and their doors. So they can see every single flat and who is coming and going from there. Conversations are recorded. I know this because the neighbour sent my mum a video and said how cute her grandkids were. She had footage of hrem dancing and singing a song whilst waiting for the lift. It was about a minute long!! My mum is in her 60s, and she's very uncomfortable now and has started taking the stairs down as she doesn't want to be recorded and her conversations recorded whilst she's waiting a minute or two for the lift to arrive.

Is this normal? Does anyone have experience of this?

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Original poster
Zozo1990 · 21/12/2025 21:03

She's been telling my mum about the neighbour opposite my mum and hiw he's odd he stays home all day, only goes out at 5am and returns at 9am and is home the rest of the time. Something on here tells me if other people's children were indeed recorded everyday - their every movement of leaving their house and returning home, their conversations in the corridor whilst waiting for the lift - and footage stored on a neigbours personal cloud and app, they would see that as creepy and an invasion of privacy. I work in safeguarding, I can't understand why parents' alarm bells do not ring at this!! Odd.

OP posts:
COUN · 14/12/2025 22:39

Contact the landlord/building management. When I lived in a flat we weren’t allowed them. I can’t remember the specific reason but something to the effect of not being able to record a privately owned communal area.

WorkingItOutAsIGo · 14/12/2025 22:27

When we had CCTV installed, our installer was careful to ensure we only filmed on our own property and blacked out our neighbours gardens. I think it's highly probable what this neighbour has done is not allowed. I would start with the landlord of the block.

Original poster
Zozo1990 · 14/12/2025 22:19

Negroany · 14/12/2025 22:11

If it's not allowed under tenancy regulations then that's the best route to take.

The individual is highly unlikely to be bound by GDPR, it doesn't cover private use. But you can always speak to the ICO for advice, they're very good.

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Thank you for that advice, I'll contact them tomorrow. Much appreciated.

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Fundays12 · 14/12/2025 22:15

It could be considered a breach of the GPDR act as filming other people's property needs their permission. I think individual doors and maybe comings and goings would be covered by that. I can see why you are uncomfortable with it.

Catza · 14/12/2025 22:13

Zozo1990 · 14/12/2025 22:06

I understand your experience in this area, and it’s helpful context. My concern is that this situation involves HD video and audio of families and children in a shared indoor corridor, which is different from typical cases. That’s why we'll report it rather than relying on past experiences or individual judgement. This as a privacy and tenancy concern because it involves recording video and audio of families and children in a shared indoor space, which isn’t allowed under tenancy rules or data protection.

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I heard you first time. As I said, if you feel you need to report, then report. There is no need to ask for an opinion here as there are people with more knowledge of safeguarding legislature at the local council who can advise you. You seem to have made up your mind so I can't see what's the point of starting this thread.

Negroany · 14/12/2025 22:11

Zozo1990 · 14/12/2025 22:06

I understand your experience in this area, and it’s helpful context. My concern is that this situation involves HD video and audio of families and children in a shared indoor corridor, which is different from typical cases. That’s why we'll report it rather than relying on past experiences or individual judgement. This as a privacy and tenancy concern because it involves recording video and audio of families and children in a shared indoor space, which isn’t allowed under tenancy rules or data protection.

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If it's not allowed under tenancy regulations then that's the best route to take.

The individual is highly unlikely to be bound by GDPR, it doesn't cover private use. But you can always speak to the ICO for advice, they're very good.

Original poster
Zozo1990 · 14/12/2025 22:06

Catza · 14/12/2025 21:54

The easiest way to find out the answer to your question is to make a safeguarding referral to your local council. You should hear pretty swiftly whether they will pick this up. Having done many referrals in my professional capacity, I am fairly confident in what their answer would be.

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I understand your experience in this area, and it’s helpful context. My concern is that this situation involves HD video and audio of families and children in a shared indoor corridor, which is different from typical cases. That’s why we'll report it rather than relying on past experiences or individual judgement. This as a privacy and tenancy concern because it involves recording video and audio of families and children in a shared indoor space, which isn’t allowed under tenancy rules or data protection.

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BauhausOfEliott · 14/12/2025 22:02

Zozo1990 · 14/12/2025 21:18

I understand that you don’t see it as an issue and that you don’t intend any harm. For me, intent isn’t really the point — it’s about how it feels to have private audio and video of families and children recorded and stored by a neighbour in a shared space. Even when shared openly and not for nefarious reasons, it’s still something many people aren’t comfortable with, which is why there are rules regarding shared communal spaces and recording.

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The fact you find it intrusive doesn’t make it a ‘safeguarding concern’ though. It isn’t putting the children at risk of harm.

You might be able argue that it could be a data protection breach, but that’s got nothing to do with safeguarding.

Catza · 14/12/2025 21:54

Zozo1990 · 14/12/2025 21:44

Yes, intent and discomfort aren’t the same as safeguarding. My concern is that a private neighbour is recording audio and video of families and children in a shared indoor space, storing it, and sharing it. That goes beyond personal discomfor. It’s a safeguarding issue in the sense of risk management for children, not because someone is actively harming them.

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The easiest way to find out the answer to your question is to make a safeguarding referral to your local council. You should hear pretty swiftly whether they will pick this up. Having done many referrals in my professional capacity, I am fairly confident in what their answer would be.

BlueMum16 · 14/12/2025 21:53

Zozo1990 · 14/12/2025 21:44

Yes, intent and discomfort aren’t the same as safeguarding. My concern is that a private neighbour is recording audio and video of families and children in a shared indoor space, storing it, and sharing it. That goes beyond personal discomfor. It’s a safeguarding issue in the sense of risk management for children, not because someone is actively harming them.

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This isn't a safeguarding concern but potentially a privacy and a GDPR breach.

Speak to the neighbour. Ask them to move the camera so it doesn't record your parents door (that's their private area) and to zone the recording so it doesn't pick up wider than their own doorstep.

A quick Google will give you an idea

They need to be open about how it's storing data and who will have access. I don't believe they should share with anyone except maybe the Police if requested.

I personally would not be happy. Too many people have their Ring doorbell filming private people in the street rather than adjust their settings to film only their private dwelling.

Original poster
Zozo1990 · 14/12/2025 21:46

AmberLime · 14/12/2025 21:45

It's not illegal to record video and/audio of members of the public.

It's how journalism works.

It's also how security CCTV works.

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True, recording in public spaces is different, but this is a shared indoor residential corridor, not a public street. Private individuals recording audio/video of neighbours and children in communal areas without consent is not treated the same as journalism or professional CCTV, which have clear legal frameworks and safeguards.

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AmberLime · 14/12/2025 21:45

Zozo1990 · 14/12/2025 21:35

It’s not about catching anything dramatic. It’s about a private individual recording and storing video and audio of neighbours and children in an indoor communal space. Over time it captures people’s routines, conversations, visitors and children’s behaviour without consent. That’s why reaidential buildings and data-protection law treat this differently from public CCTV or someone filming their own front door. This is a flat. A communal building

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It's not illegal to record video and/audio of members of the public.

It's how journalism works.

It's also how security CCTV works.

Original poster
Zozo1990 · 14/12/2025 21:44

Catza · 14/12/2025 21:39

Not being comfortable with something is not the same as safeguarding issue, though. If the neighbours are not comfortable, they can make a polite request for the camera to be removed. There may be an argument for invasion of privacy on the basis of recording sound. But that's about it.

Show quote history

Yes, intent and discomfort aren’t the same as safeguarding. My concern is that a private neighbour is recording audio and video of families and children in a shared indoor space, storing it, and sharing it. That goes beyond personal discomfor. It’s a safeguarding issue in the sense of risk management for children, not because someone is actively harming them.

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Catza · 14/12/2025 21:39

Zozo1990 · 14/12/2025 21:18

I understand that you don’t see it as an issue and that you don’t intend any harm. For me, intent isn’t really the point — it’s about how it feels to have private audio and video of families and children recorded and stored by a neighbour in a shared space. Even when shared openly and not for nefarious reasons, it’s still something many people aren’t comfortable with, which is why there are rules regarding shared communal spaces and recording.

Show quote history

Not being comfortable with something is not the same as safeguarding issue, though. If the neighbours are not comfortable, they can make a polite request for the camera to be removed. There may be an argument for invasion of privacy on the basis of recording sound. But that's about it.

Mhvybffbdcrvtvd · 14/12/2025 21:39

It’s intrusive. I’m sick of ring doorbell cameras. The school route we walk is littered with them.

I don’t understand how they caught on after someone successfully sued their neighbour a few years ago for invasion of privacy.

I understand that some people like them for security, but everyone I know who has one are the classic nosy gossips.

But to answer your question, it’s not a safeguarding concern. But it is an invasion of privacy.

Pippa12 · 14/12/2025 21:38

Why don’t you just knock on and speak to her about it?

Original poster
Zozo1990 · 14/12/2025 21:35

Pippa12 · 14/12/2025 21:31

But what do you think they’ll capture in a public corridor that would cause concern?

It’s not about catching anything dramatic. It’s about a private individual recording and storing video and audio of neighbours and children in an indoor communal space. Over time it captures people’s routines, conversations, visitors and children’s behaviour without consent. That’s why reaidential buildings and data-protection law treat this differently from public CCTV or someone filming their own front door. This is a flat. A communal building

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Faceonthewrongfoot · 14/12/2025 21:32

It's not a safeguarding concern, but the neighbour is bound by gdpr rules around what she can do with the video and audio, which include having to provide your mum with any footage she appears on request, and deleting any footage on request.

Fleur405 · 14/12/2025 21:31

I don’t know that it’s a safeguarding issue exactly (unless you think there is some nefarious purpose) but it is a data protection issue.

Have a look at this information:

https://ico.org.uk/for-the-public/home-cctv-systems/

Home CCTV systems

https://ico.org.uk/for-the-public/home-cctv-systems

Pippa12 · 14/12/2025 21:31

But what do you think they’ll capture in a public corridor that would cause concern?

Original poster
Zozo1990 · 14/12/2025 21:26

Pippa12 · 14/12/2025 21:23

Has she put it on social media? You could just knock on and voice your concerns. Isn’t it just a Ring doorbell? Majority of people have these now.

It’s not about whether it’s been put on social media or intent. The concern is that it’s recording clear video and audio of neighbours and children in a shared communal space, not just her own doorway. A private Ring-style device in a flat corridor isn’t the same as a house with a front door facing a public street.

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Original poster
Zozo1990 · 14/12/2025 21:24

Bucketfulloftears · 14/12/2025 21:19

It depends. If the neighbour put the footage on social media of other people, children or otherwise, then surely it could be a safeguarding issue? There might be vulnerable children or adults in the footage, neighbour wouldn't necessarily be aware of that. That's why there's been bans of taking footage of school plays etc.

Exactly - that’s part of the concern. It’s not just about intent or whether footage is shared publicly, but that private individuals recording and storing audio/video in communal residential spaces can’t know who might be vulnerable, or how footage could be used later. That’s why safeguarding and data protection rules exist, and why it’s something for the housing landlord to manage rather than neighbours individually knocking on their doors.

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Pippa12 · 14/12/2025 21:23

Has she put it on social media? You could just knock on and voice your concerns. Isn’t it just a Ring doorbell? Majority of people have these now.

Bucketfulloftears · 14/12/2025 21:19

It depends. If the neighbour put the footage on social media of other people, children or otherwise, then surely it could be a safeguarding issue? There might be vulnerable children or adults in the footage, neighbour wouldn't necessarily be aware of that. That's why there's been bans of taking footage of school plays etc.