Cameras filming public footpaths - is this even allowed?

[Miniegg6]

Went for a run this morning on my usual route (footpaths and bridleways through fields). Noticed a load of cameras stuck up on trees and fences recording, which I thought was strange.

I’ve since seen a fb post saying that the cameras are to record sightings of a missing dog and asking people not to touch them.

AIBU to feel slightly uneasy about this? Is it even allowed? I don’t know the person who has lost their dog but presuming any GDPR type rules have probably not been considered. Yes I know CCTV, ring doorbells etc are everywhere but this feels different somehow. I run this route all the time and feel slightly uncomfortable that there’s now footage of me!

But it isn't different. You just don't like it. So choose a different route.

They are temporary cameras, likely animal watching ones, only recording when triggered by movement. They will be checking the footage for a specific dog and not be interested in you picking your nose or scratching your arse and move past you without interest.

Get a grip, they'll be gone soon enough.

Council cameras/ wildlife cameras wouldn't bother me. Personal cameras would kinda give me the creeps tbh. Be pretty easy for weirdos to use but then I watch way to many documentaries!

Yeah I wouldn't like this. Just because someone says they are looking for a missing dog doesn't mean it's true. What if it's a stalker? Or abusive partner? Someone looking for lone female runners to work out a pattern of when someone is going to be there alone and vulnerable?

Totally different from a doorbell cam that is focused on the front of your own property. And CCTV has a lot of rules and isn't monitored by unknown private individuals.

Are you insane? Why should people stop using public land because other people want to put cameras up?

OP, a quick google suggests they are not allowed to do this. www.aaisecurity.co.uk/news/cctv-legal-requirements-and-laws-explained-commercial-and-domestic-use/#:~:text=If%20you%20wish%20to%20operate,(31%20days%20is%20standard).

Following

It should be allowed, imho.
And that's without signs up.
Since signs are up you know where to avoid since you don't want to be filmed.

If it's in Norfolk it is a dog they are looking for.

But in pretty sure those ones were out up with the landowners permission.

You are right OP. I’d check its weird.

anyone can say its for anything. We don’t know.

could be a lunatic tracking someone. Could be a voyeur. Private individuals shouldnt be filming public walkways Willy nilly

I don't know the answer but this is interesting. Some public rights of way are across private land (like farmers fields) so surely it is allowed there by the landowners. But not by private individuals in a public park or land?

I would also have been a bit surprised and uncomfortable if suddenly appeared so I don't think it's unreasonable to think about it or ask

What a weird take. It is weird- who knows what he footage is used for- some creepo looking for patterns of lone females being one.

There aren’t/weren’t any signs up so unsure what @lljkk is referring to? I just noticed the cameras had appeared.

A public right of way doesn't make a field public land.

To be honest .. I wish there were more cameras

The number of attacks , muggings , stabbings recently , this wouldn't bother me in the slightest

Worst for me would be caught talking to myself , picking my nose or my pants out my bum

picking my nose or my pants out my bum

Blimey, you must be supple

I have no problems with cameras anywhere - makes me feel safer.

I hate to break it to you, but you are on camera pretty much everywhere these days

We had similar in a forest a few years ago. There is potential for issues if people don't know they are being filmed and there needs to be landowner consent. We are on camera practically everywhere and I probably wouldn't be getting too upset about this as a result. What is it you don't feel comfortable with about it? Most people don't put cameras up just to film joggers. There's usually more to it.

Wear a disguise?

lol.
In all seriouness, we live in London and wherever you look there are cams.
It makes us feel safer and just cant have too many of them

I'm with the lot of people that say, if you have nothing to hide...

Yes, we are all different but in the scheme of things, cams are good

If we were in our garden, and next door had their cams pointed on our house/gardens, that different otherwise, I'm for cams 100%

If its private land and they have the landowners permission then its fine.

A right of way through a field doesnt mean that the field is a public place, its a private place with a right of way through it for the public.

We have animal movement cameras set up on some of our land at the moment trying to work out what time Reynard is out trying to pinch new born lambs so we can deal with him. They are in a field with a right of way through them but if you get caught on camera it's because you have strayed from the footpath...

How do the cameras help find the dog? Unless there’s someone sitting and watching every second of the day and night, and can identify the dog, no-one will see it until hours later.

A pp mentioned motion sensors which makes sense, but you’d have to review the footage. By which time the dog’ll be gone. Virtually all the motion-triggered recording will be walkers, other dogs and wildlife. Hours and hours of boring viewing!

But if it's looking for an escaped dog the cameras aren't going to be any use anyway are they? It's not a wild animal that will be following a hunting pattern or anything like that.

Dodgy as hell as far as I'm concerned. OP I'd be tempted to try to speak to non emergency police and see what they say about the legality of it.

Actually, dogs do tend to go to ground and will stay in a fairly small area if they get lost. If they are spotted on camera, they'll probably put out food to see if the dog comes back. There's a huge amount of work that goes into catching some of these missing dogs.

Cameras can be useful for escaped dogs, yes, thats why sometimes they're used.

If it is thought a dog is frequenting a particular area (and lost dogs DO do this, often!) then this is a better way to find out than having people crashing around scaring the dog.

Lost dogs often go somewhat wild, and aren't able to recognise their owners even, let alone the kind intentions of strangers, so in some instances setting up wildlife cams to monitor an area prior to trapping is the way forward.