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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Would you hand over the CCTV footage?

199 replies

Puttingchildrenfirst · 18/03/2023 15:38

I can't work out what is the "right" thing to do.

We have CCTV on our house, it Covers our drive, back garden and some of the street outside our house (angled to show our front path and front garden but also catches some of the on street parking).

We checked the legality of it all when we installed it but have had endless problems with one of our neighbours objecting to it. They like to purposefully stand in the cameras view to give us the finger and once even came up our drive to spit on it. To be honest its a wider issue as our old owners used to allow them to use their drive for parking and we stopped that when we moved in, they never got over that.

To cut a long story short... they have had someone hit their car outside ours. They have demanded (not asked mind!) That we send them the CCTV footage of the incident. It does show what seems to be a car going too close to theirs, but doesn't show the occupant or the licence plate.

I'll be honest the CFery astounds me, I want to tell them to take a running jump if they think they're getting help from the cameras that they have complained about since the beginning.

I know we have to give someone any stored images of an individual if they complete an SAR, but I don't think that applies here. But then again I feel like I'm creating extra tension (and being an arse) if we refuse! I would give it to the police if they asked but I can't imagine they'll investigate the matter and just say insurance should handle it.

So would you hand it over (after all it is a crime to hit a car and drive off) or tell them to take a long walk off a short pier?

YANBU - don't hand over footage
YABU - you should give the footage

OP posts:
MissMaple82 · 18/03/2023 16:13

Tell them to swiftly fuck right off!!

Laiste · 18/03/2023 16:14

So on the fence about this one!

Have you still got the footage of the finger and the spitting?

If it was me ... i'd probably tell them to get fucked. BUT my advice to you* *is to let them have the footage, but with the finger/spit bit as well. To make them feel bad.

MolkosTeenageAngst · 18/03/2023 16:14

Id probably comply in the hope that it would put an end to their objections and make relations a bit better.

CheeseandGherkins · 18/03/2023 16:15

I would give them it.

Original poster
Puttingchildrenfirst · 18/03/2023 16:15

AnnoyedFromSlough · 18/03/2023 16:07

Some highlights from here www.gov.uk/government/publications/domestic-cctv-using-cctv-systems-on-your-property/domestic-cctv-using-cctv-systems-on-your-property

3.4 Taking responsibility for your CCTV system

you must make sure that the information is not used for any other purpose than protecting your property

you will need to be aware of individuals’ data protection rights and make sure you take steps to allow the people you record to exercise these rights effectively (for example, you will need to respond appropriately to any subject access requests you receive from the people you record)

3.5 Storing the recorded information
Ensure you bear the following in mind when storing the information you record on your CCTV system:

you should not store any information or images for longer than is necessary to protect your property which means you should delete the information once it is no longer required

you should make sure that the information recorded is used only for the purpose for which your system was installed (for example it will not be appropriate to share any recordings on social media sites)

you must keep the recordings secure and keep access to them to a minimum (remember that you are responsible for what happens with the information)

in certain circumstances, the information you record may be used as evidence by the police in an investigation (therefore, if you are not sure, it is important to check with your installer or local police authority that the information you record can be used for this purpose when required)

But does this mean that I do have to help them (it's their car in the footage not them but still)... or that I don't have to help and in fact technically shouldn't share the footage I have?

OP posts:
WombatBombat · 18/03/2023 16:20

Puttingchildrenfirst · 18/03/2023 16:15

But does this mean that I do have to help them (it's their car in the footage not them but still)... or that I don't have to help and in fact technically shouldn't share the footage I have?

Show quote history

I’d tell them that it has to be the police that request it.

Original poster
Puttingchildrenfirst · 18/03/2023 16:20

Laiste · 18/03/2023 16:14

So on the fence about this one!

Have you still got the footage of the finger and the spitting?

If it was me ... i'd probably tell them to get fucked. BUT my advice to you* *is to let them have the footage, but with the finger/spit bit as well. To make them feel bad.

Yes we do have it, it's stored for evidence of harassment.

I did say to DH we should say sure here it is "swearing footage"... woops wrong file, here it is "flipping us off" .... oops silly me again. We've got 6 or 7 clips so I could do it for a while! See how many I send before they get the hint.

OP posts:
iknowimcoming · 18/03/2023 16:21

It states 'people you record' so I'd say no, but I would absolutely tell them you adjusted the camera to only record your property at their request and therefore it wouldn't have captured it - sorry! I'd also smile sweetly and offer to adjust it back so that in future you could help them if they want!!

AnnoyedFromSlough · 18/03/2023 16:24

Puttingchildrenfirst · 18/03/2023 16:15

But does this mean that I do have to help them (it's their car in the footage not them but still)... or that I don't have to help and in fact technically shouldn't share the footage I have?

Show quote history

Imo it suggests that legally, your hands are tied.

For example, should you give them the footage, and they put it on social media - that's your responsibility.

Floralnomad · 18/03/2023 16:25

The only way I’d give them anything would be if the police made me .

BMW6 · 18/03/2023 16:32

Oh I'd have to say something .........

"Do you want to see all the footage of you being an arsewipe about the camera as well? You spitting at it, giving us the finger" delivered with a hard stare.😠

PaigeMatthews · 18/03/2023 16:32

Puttingchildrenfirst · 18/03/2023 16:20

Yes we do have it, it's stored for evidence of harassment.

I did say to DH we should say sure here it is "swearing footage"... woops wrong file, here it is "flipping us off" .... oops silly me again. We've got 6 or 7 clips so I could do it for a while! See how many I send before they get the hint.

Show quote history

This. Do this.

iknowimcoming · 18/03/2023 16:34

Also are you sure the damage happened where they say it did? Could be a fishing exercise to get you to show them what your cctv captures? Or as pp said if you hand it over, and they use it unwisely, they could get you into trouble, perhaps deliberately, to make a point. But, ultimately I wouldn't give them it under any circumstances!

mumda · 18/03/2023 16:35

You can give a person their personal data (images)
but you can't give anyone else someone elses.
If the police ask for it you have to give it.

Ask their insurance company to ask you for it.

Ivecomeoutoflurking · 18/03/2023 16:36

Part of me feels like they are only asking for the footage to use against you. I don't think I'd want to share it, I'd just say sorry the camera doesn't capture that area anymore

Gymnopedie · 18/03/2023 16:38

At first I was going to say give them the footage and then if they ever dared to complain about the cameras again tell them to fuck off.

But that extract from the law is clear. If you have a CCTV system it must only be used to protect your property. So no I wouldn't. It's not your property, it didn't happen on your property, and you don't know what they'd do with it if they had it.

Original poster
Puttingchildrenfirst · 18/03/2023 16:39

I'm so glad I came to here, I hadn't even considered it might be malicious.

Or that if they put it on Facebook we would get the blame for that.

OP posts:
Nolongera · 18/03/2023 16:41

They give you the finger, spit on your property and demand footage?

Tell them to fuck off. Right off.

BelindaMelinda · 18/03/2023 16:41

I'd tell them no problem, I'll send it over.

Then I'd do a long repeating video montage of all the flipping off/spitting etc and send them that, without making any other reference to it.

IncessantNameChanger · 18/03/2023 16:51

I don't pay the subscription for my doorbell to record. How do they even know you have it recorded?

ReneBumsWombats · 18/03/2023 17:05

I'd give it to them, but only after accidentally giving them the footage of them flicking the finger and spitting on the camera a few times. Oops.

Change2banon · 18/03/2023 17:07

Personally I’d tell them where to go. I’d remind them of their awful behaviour towards you and your camera. If the police want it, they can get a court order 🤷‍♀️

dawngreen · 18/03/2023 17:08

They just want to see how far your camera shows. So they have more ammo to complain about your camera.

Pixiedust1234 · 18/03/2023 17:09

No i wouldn't. I would say that night had been recorded over already as the cctv is on a short loop. Its not as though you could see anything identifying anyway.

LakeTiticaca · 18/03/2023 17:10

I would say I've deleted it along with the recordings of their abusive behaviour