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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:
Goldie2021 · 24/04/2023 12:53

callthataspade · 18/03/2023 15:41

I would be petty and send them the footage of them giving the camera the finger.

Nah. They can get to fuck if you're going to help them.

Love this level of petty 🤣

Moveoverdarlin · 24/04/2023 12:55

I’d say ‘Ahh sorry, it’s been malfunctioning lately, it’s not picked it up. If you want the footage of you walking up my drive and gobbing at the camera though, I’ve still got that.

The cheek.

wherethecityis · 24/04/2023 12:56

"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)"
Ignoring the fact they are arseholes, as you didn't install the system for the purpose of observing someone damaging your neighbours car, I don't see how legally you can give it to them.

TimeToChange111 · 24/04/2023 13:01

Everyone saying "be the bigger person and give them the footage" is wrong.
What do you think they can do with it to help? Nothing
It won't be allowed as evidence unless the OP downloads it, verifies the date and time and passes it directly to the police.
If they give it to their CF neighbour, it's likely to be spread all over Facebook....

Lachimolala · 24/04/2023 13:07

I’d say something like ‘Oh sorry it only catches when people stand right in front of it, giving the finger and spitting on it etc. What a shame hey! Hope you’re cars okay 👍🏻’

Then ignore them 😂

LakieLady · 24/04/2023 13:08

senua · 18/03/2023 18:25

I'd go with "since the interaction with the ICO, we have been super-careful with the legalities of the CCTV. We therefore know that we cannot release the footage to you, our hands are tied."
It brings it home to them that they are the authors of their own misfortune.

Show quote history

I'd do this, especially as I suspect that if your CCTV records anything even slightly outside what is permitted, they'd be straight on to the ICO.

ifIwerenotanandroid · 24/04/2023 13:08

I think you have my ex-neighbours...

Oldnproud · 24/04/2023 13:10

I would love to be petty about it, but in reality I suggest that you say that you will make it available only if officially asked to do so by the police or their insurance company.

red78hot · 24/04/2023 13:14

I'd give them the footage along with the footage of them giving you the finger.
Also when handing over the footage I'd say something along the lines of " I trust that after giving you this footage there will be no more harassment from you about the camera?"
I just would HAVE to comment something to the cheeky fooker!

Rosscameasdoody · 24/04/2023 13:16

I would refuse to give it to the neighbours directly. Tell them that if the police are investigating you’re happy to pass footage directly to them or alternatively directly to their insurance company if they require it. It wouldn’t be admissible as evidence if the neighbours had had direct access to it beforehand, as they could have tampered with it.

Tessasanderson · 24/04/2023 13:17

Im not sure. You are well within your rights to tell them to go forth and multiply. However, do you want to feed the animosity? Maybe this is just the opportunity to build a bridge and show them the value.

It will cost you nothing and may just get them onside in the future. Noone ever knows when you might need something in return.

Go on, give them it and sit under your glowing halo :-)

StoppinBy · 24/04/2023 13:20

Lol, I do find the idea of repeatedly sending them the videos of themselves being jerks quite amusing.

I'd be telling them that you are happy to release the footage but that the request has to come from the police, then when I sent it to the police I'd attach a few of the videos of the neighbours behaving badly to it.

TonTonMacoute · 24/04/2023 13:20

Annoyingwurringnoise · 19/03/2023 11:36

A PP has it right, tell them to get their insurance company to request the footage. I’d do it in the smug knowledge that it would turn out to be useless to them anyway.

This.

It's called karma - enjoy!

Showdogworkingdog · 24/04/2023 13:28

Just tell him it doesn’t cover the street. It’s private and none of his business. Fuck him.

notacooldad · 24/04/2023 13:35

Clearly they have asked you for footage.....so what did you say to them? You must have said something back.

Rosula · 24/04/2023 13:35

This all happened over a month ago. I suspect it's been resolved by now.

Sandra1984 · 24/04/2023 13:40

"I would give you the footage but you've been a total c*nt about my cameras all this time and giving me the middle finger so now you don't get to enjoy it. I will only give footage to the police so you're going to need a police order to get that footage. Have a great day now".

OldFan · 24/04/2023 13:40

I would tell them yes but say to them that they then can't moan or do anything in front of/to the cameras again.

Merida46 · 24/04/2023 13:41

Just tell them that you have masked all areas beyond your own property so the incident wasn't recorded.

deedeeweewoo · 24/04/2023 13:41

You would definitely hand over the footage if some selfish person hadn't blocked the camera somehow. How frustrating for them! dirty barstwards, spitting? ffs!

Climbles · 24/04/2023 13:48

Don’t hand I’ve the footage. What if they post it online or go all vigilante on some poor person. I also wouldn’t antagonise them. It’s tempting but you have to live there and they are clearly crazy people. Just tell them nothing was captured.

Secondwindplease · 24/04/2023 13:50

I would kill them with kindness in the hope of an easier life in future. ‘Sorry that happened to you, here’s the footage, hope it all gets resolved’.

I’m normally a petty bitch but with my neighbours I’d choose peace.

Tamrastarr · 24/04/2023 13:50

It wont make any difference anyway. We had CCTV footage of a local bus hitting our car, but no number plate etc and it got us absolutely nowhere. Also had CCTV footage of someone coming onto my drive and stealing my car and the police said it wasn't enough evidence. Tell them to claim on their insurance

AlienSupaStar · 24/04/2023 13:52

@Puttingchildrenfirst what did you say when they spat on your camera / drive?!

I’d be discussing THAT before handing anything over.

LemonSwan · 24/04/2023 13:54

To be fair even put absolute hell hole of a neighbour shared their cctv when asked, and they tried to disrupt/ stop the sale of our house!

So I would say be the bigger person.