Security camera, are there rules?

[wjg65ka]

Hi,

I'm currently stuck in a mortgage (can't sell for two years) in a terraced property. We have no front garden and a small back yard.

We've had trouble with our neighbour since 2020, it's getting worse. She has a child about age 3 that she has once a fortnight, this is the only time she is quiet.

We have an almost 2 year old and newborn on the way, as if we weren't already miserable enough with her shouting, partying, setting fires outside constantly and having parties she's now started throwing things over our fence.

Bits of food, cigarettes, bottles??? I have no idea why. I am now currently in the bath and she has quite literally said to her friend "just throw it over next doors fence"

We've had conflict with her in the past, she's kicked our door and verbally attacked my DH. I will not approach her while I'm pregnant.

We need an outdoor camera, but DH says we can't as there are rules about them? I have no idea what he's on about I thought we had the right to have a camera on our property.

Police have been involved as have social services. We know her landlord, she says she can't evict her. I contact the council regularly, nothing is getting done.

I'm at my whits end really. My DS can't even go out in our yard because of her.

Can I get a camera and if so, are there rules?

www.gov.uk/government/publications/domestic-cctv-using-cctv-systems-on-your-property/domestic-cctv-using-cctv-systems-on-your-property

So I would have the camera below your fence line but next to horrible neighbour.
So you can hear and see things being thrown
With sign on top to say about cctv etc

@wjg65ka
No problem at all with covering your property.
If it overlooks outside of your property then that’s still legal, but there are data protection requirements

You must avoid covering what would interfere with their right to privacy - make sure it doesn’t cover their windows and avoid covering their garden
But covering your garden is allowed

ico.org.uk/your-data-matters/domestic-cctv-systems-guidance-for-people-using-cctv/

@MittensOnKittens03 thank you so much, this is really helpful

You can have cameras on your property and it can catch other properties on screen too. You can't point it at other's windows, doors or focus it directly on their property though. You can film a public street all you like. I would be perfectly happy with CCTV bloody everywhere if it prevented or aided in punishing criminals, and it's brilliant for nuisance neighbours. It's no longer your word against theirs.

Oh and what they throw over, just return it at the bottom of their garden. 🤷🏻‍♀️