Would you report someone to SS for having CCTV in their home

[Tilltheend99]

As it says really. And hopefully this isn’t outing.

Some extended family have cameras all over their home including bedroom.

The original reason was that the stepchildren were supposedly stealing money but they have since moved out on their own as over 16.

Don’t see them often and even less since lockdown do can’t say if cameras are currently still up.

The primary age child they share presents as fed/well clothed/articulate plus no signs of physical abuse. The whole thing was more about pfb vs scs’. Mother is very gregarious and loving. Father is classic boring bloke with hobbies but perhaps a bit odd.

So basically I have no reason to suspect anything that I would contact social services about but the CCTV has never sat comfortably with me and since reading about the sad case of Arthur I am wondering again if this alone is enough of a red flag to contact ss?

So UABU: having cameras up all over the house is considered normal now and is not enough to report or

UANBU: having CCTV removes the child’s right to privacy in their own house and you would report?

Just interested to see what other people think or if I am blowing this out of proportion.

They used to throw large family parties before Covid and no one else seemed bothered by the CCTV. (TV in kitchen so not hiding it from anyone)

I tried to find a topic to post under but couldn’t find one suitable so sorry if this is in the wrong place.

And what sort of response do you expect..?
“Oh thanks anon caller for the report. Loving, kind parents who give no cause for concern but are worried about theft are THE NUMBER ONE threat to children. We will get on the case right away!”

My DS is 4, we still have the baby monitor is his bedroom. It doesn't record and only shows him "live".
He sees mainly different specialists for his suspected autism. He's doesn't always make the best or safest decisions and doesn't sleep through the night (he is prescribed melatonin to help but it only does so much).
When he needs privacy I hope he is safe enough not to be monitored, but only time will tell.
And he's in primary school and there is 100% nothing sinister going on.

Ffs are you ok OP !!!!! I know SO many people with hive cameras or similar in their house it’s really NOT an indicator of abuse

We have an internal camera, in the lounge/dining room. Doesn't store recordings so live feed only and used to spy on the dogs.

I think its grossly inappropriate in bedrooms

My mum set up cc tv once to catch my brother stealing from her bag as she thought she was going crazy as m money kept disappearing

Would never have one in the bedroom - I do find that a bit odd…

We have cctv at the front of our house which records and it’s saved till I remember to delete it.

We also have cameras in the kitchen to spy on the dogs when we are out these just show a live stream I don’t think they are saved.

I think you are overthinking this op.

There have been quite a few threads on here where the male partner has cameras set up so they can spy on their female partner, whilst they are at work, to check on what they are doing

My colleague showed me the other day she had CCTV inside her house, when I seemed shocked (she has two teens and I said it felt like spying, we're close and have a pretty direct relationship, so no offence was taken), she said it was for keeping an eye on the puppy when everyone was out which was for never more than an hour or two, and she turned out of when anyone was at home. I pointed out her daughter was at home when she showed me there live feed... It seems off but not a SS issue

@ByThePool2021

Erm don’t all parents have baby cams in their child’s room at some point? Yes bathroom is a little dodgy but it’s quite common practise so I can’t see SS getting involved

No definitely not!

@SW1amp

So how do you envisage this call with Ss going..?

“Hi social services. I want to report a family I know. The kids are all happy, well looked after and doing well in school, with 2 parents who seem to love them, and there are no abuse concerns.
But the parents have CCTV in the communal areas of the house, so I think you should investigate them”

Yes it’s like this Thread should be retitled ‘how can I make sure even more of ss precious time is wasted on non abusive families and then leaving children who are at real risk of abuse not helped because we are reporting those who dont need reporting’ 🤦‍♀️

Yep. report if you are concerned, simple as that really

@toomuchlaundry

If you have CCTV in your house surely you only have it on when you are not in the house, for security reasons

No, some people have it on all the time!

@RavingAnnie

Yabvvvvu. It's not a concern at all. And as you say yourself you don't even know if the cameras are still up! Mind your business.

I’m happy to be told I’m being unreasonable.

Or for thread to be taken down if deemed inappropriate.

Not sure about ‘minding by business’ though as would feel terrible if kid was having a miserable time.

In fairness, I would have probably forgotten about the whole situation if not for the current prominent case. But obviously there was a lot more going on there.

I'm not sure if YABU. Are there any other indicators of abuse besides the CCTV?

I agree with you that they are total wierdies.

yabvvvvvvvvvu

CCTV in teenage bedrooms would be inappropriate, but for a 4 year old, surely it's no different to a nanny cam/baby monitor?

Seems like a weird thing to do but not weird enough to report to social services.

This really sounds like time wasting to me: there are lots of legitimate reasons to have CCTV in your home including security & to see if kids are settling in bed or up playing/reading etc, teens are causing arguments by wandering into each other’s rooms etc etc

Sounds like you just don’t like them. Malicious reporting that SW have to follow up is just taking resources away from children who genuinely do need help

Unfortunately it is VERY common in American blended families where there are issues between stepkids and step parents and I guess the trend has moved to the UK

It depends on the intention but SS have no reason to intervene if the child's privacy is not being comprised

CCTV is fine as long as not in the Childs bedroom or bathroom.
If an adult wants CCTV in their bedroom, fine, whatever.
It's not weird have cameras in communal rooms.

A lot of people have cctv in communal areas especially if they live in large houses that people like to burgle. Our neighbourhood watch sometimes posts videos of break ins, indoor cameras are common place. Having a camera in a 4 year old's room isn't that odd, we have a 4 year old, if our house was bigger or had more floors I'd probably consider one too just to check on them when we are downstairs or if I hear him stir in the night.

Not sure what you'd be reporting here unless there were cameras in the bathroom or teen bedrooms, but you've said there's not.

@DespairingHomeowner

This really sounds like time wasting to me: there are lots of legitimate reasons to have CCTV in your home including security & to see if kids are settling in bed or up playing/reading etc, teens are causing arguments by wandering into each other’s rooms etc etc

Sounds like you just don’t like them. Malicious reporting that SW have to follow up is just taking resources away from children who genuinely do need help

It’s the opposite actually. I do like them. I wouldn’t live my life that way personally or have wanted that as a child growing up but DC is a lovely little lad and wouldn’t worry otherwise. (Not that I wouldn’t worry if it was a strangers kid but wouldn’t know enough about them to worry if that makes sense)

I have no reason to ‘revenge call’ and this is absolutely not a thread about ‘I’m going to do x and no one can stop me regardless of there opinion.’

Jeez OP! Don't you think social services have enough to deal with without nosy parkers reporting sketchy non issues to them. The children further down my street have a crackhead mother, an abusive brother who kicks off every five minutes, oddbods in and out of the squalid house they live in, and are often found wandering the streets in the rain barely clothed. SS barely have enough resources to tackle this issue, but yes, let's put more pressure on them with a story about a family who may (or may not) have cctv in their home.

I honestly despair!