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Neighbours CCTV points into my garden?

11 replies

kmarie9 · 12/09/2019 21:04

Probably going to be a little long winded but I’m looking for some advice/ opinions. I have lived in my house for around 3 months now and when I first moved in i noticed the lady next door has CCTV on every side of the building, including the back garden. To be honest it never really bothered me as I know it has its benefits/ may make them feel safer however a few weeks back I came home to a note through my door saying (in simpler terms) that she had seen my 4 year old son on CCTV throwing lumps of grass into her garden, down the point of what he was wearing on that day and the age of him. I was out when she put the note through the door and she also said something along the lines of ‘I know what it’s like I was a single parent too’ which I found quite offensive. She also knocked and I did apologise but this was before I read the note which I must say put me out a bit! Now I’m not excusing what he did at all and he has been spoken to about this and has not done it again but I can’t get rid of the thought that her CCTV pointing that directly into my garden that she can see what he’s up to/what I’m doing in my own garden worries me a little! I don’t know this woman and she might be perfectly harmless however am I the only one who would not like this? Thanks!

OP posts:
Newmumma83 · 12/09/2019 21:08

I believe that they should have gained your permission first / made you aware ... you are in your rights to ask them to Move cameras so they don’t record your property.

I have been told this not from my own legal knowledge

AutumnCrow · 12/09/2019 21:14

I've got CCTV and the advice from my local council and police was that as long as it primarily looks onto my own property, it can also look onto and record 'the edge of' the pavement, public highway or neighbour's boundary.

The impression I got from them was it's about intent, ie if her intent is to film your property, rather than her own, you can tell her to redirect her camera onto her boundary fence. (That would still have shown where the grass came from, if that matters so much to her.)

I don't know if there's any case law on this. I am not a lawyer.

AlwaysCheddar · 13/09/2019 07:46

There is clear guidance on the ICO website

AutumnCrow · 13/09/2019 10:35

I just found that, @AlwaysCheddar

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

I wish that the council / police had mentioned it when I asked for guidance! Thank you.

BringMeAGinandTonic · 17/09/2019 18:07

This would make me mad. So what is she doing, reviewing the footage each day? Or saw some foreign grass clumps on her side and then watched the footage to see where it must've come from? How does she even know you're a single mum? Is that also from watching footage?

She sounds like a busybody. Good thing I don't live there. I'd give her a show to watch. Grin

BringMeAGinandTonic · 17/09/2019 18:08

Sorry, that should say single parent not single mum, as said in your OP.

Hopesorfears · 17/09/2019 18:11

It doesn't take Sherlock Holmes to notice if the new neighbour has a partner or not, she doesn't need cctv for that! Did you ask your son why he was doing that, he must have known that was not ok?

LazyFace · 17/09/2019 18:14

I believe it's illegal to record your garden or the footpath etc.

Katex888 · 17/09/2019 18:23

Please go do naked star jumps or get your friends to dress up as clowns, run around in your garden in silence. What can she complain about? As there’s no noise and you are in your own garden. I’d love to give the old hag a proper show.

BringMeAGinandTonic · 17/09/2019 18:31

It doesn't take Sherlock Holmes to notice if the new neighbour has a partner or not, she doesn't need cctv for that!

Well no, it doesn't, and maybe I am overthinking it but there could be hedges in the way, for example. Or the neighbour could be situated in such a way that makes direct view difficult, thus relying on CCTV.

kmarie9 · 17/09/2019 21:32

Thanks all! I don't want to get off on the wrong foot with new neighbours so it's difficult to know how to address the situation. Some of these have given me a good laugh so thank you and as for 'he must have known it's not okay' of course he knows it's not okay and I imagine your children have also done things when you have your back turned for a minute! No one is perfect even if we pretend to be Smile perhaps next time I'll see if she can give me some forensic evidence that the grass came from the area to Thanks

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