Neighbours cameras in back garden

[youllsan]

We have neighbours around us who have cameras up high on their houses so we have no privacy in our back garden.
There is no need for this as could have put cameras up half way on their houses and would not have infringed on our privacy.
I think this is weird and intrusive.
What do others think?

Before speaking to the neighbours?

What a waste of police time.

Did you read whole thread?
I already said one of neighbours camera was pointing in our garden not their own garden!
How many times do I have to say this in thread. I created this thread because I want to hear others advice and opinions even if i don't agree with everything said I appreciate people's taking their time to respond.

@youllsan I share your frustration! Our delightful neighbours actually waited until we went away then climbed over a locked gate, trespassed on our land to put an audio enabled camera on a shared wall that 99% looked over OUR garden! We were furious! On discussing this they agreed to move it so it’s technically on their wall but it still covers a huge section of our garden and majorly infringes our privacy due to it being audio enabled! We didn’t know how long it had been in place before we asked them to move it as it’s really high up!

I hope you get some resolution!

Just found this answer to your question in a legal forum. I think if you are certain that the camera is directly/deliberately angled to see into your garden and not just capture your adjoining boundaries, then this may be useful:

’I am one of the legal experts (a dual-qualified Solicitor in the UK and Republic of Ireland).
Thanks for the question - I am reviewing the details now and I will aim to resolve it as quickly as possible for you.

“Sorry to hear of the issue.
It is not legal what they are doing - for one you have a right to privacy and you also have a right to not be harassed (this is likely to be construed as harassment).
You have a right to privacy under the Human Rights Act. The neighbour is infringing your human rights by training the camera on to your garden. Not only that, if they capture images of you and your family, you can allege that they are infringing your data rights.
If they persist then you can apply to the local county court for a civil injunction.
However, before you do this, send the neighbour a cease and desist letter to warn them of your intentions unless they stop (and give them 14 days to stop their conduct). A
template “cease and desist” letter is available at https://www.lawdepot.co.uk/
If you go to the search box in the top right corner of the site, it will bring up a list - you want the "general" letter.
You can use your own letter if you wish - it just has to make it clear this is a cease and desist letter, that you demand they stop their conduct, and that if they do not within 14 days you will apply to the court for the injunction and seek your costs.
That letter may well be enough to stop the conduct - as an injunction is a serious legal remedy.
Assuming they continue, you will need to consider an application for an injunction - you could do this yourself but if would be better to use a lawyer (and they should be able to recover their legal costs from your neighbour too).
A hearing at the local county court will be required. If you get to this point, perhaps have a look online for "injunction solicitors UK" and it will bring up a few choices of law firm for you who specialise in this area.”

I hope this is a helpful starting point.

You don't know where it's pointing without looking at the footage though. As I've said. Ours look like you'd be able to see the road - you can't. One looks like you'd be able to see next doors drive - you can't.

Anyone out there agree with me that it's intrusive?
People keep saying on here ask your neighbours?
Why should I?
They should have had courtesy to mention first and also not have camera pointing in our back garden?
Not hard is it.

The camera may or may not be seeing your garden, it depends on its focal length/angle of view. We put a camera up with a narrow angle, it only looks between the fences. We gave both neighbours a snapshot of the view and they are happy.

It doesn’t matter what we think - if it is physically pointing into your garden, then see my previous reply.

Thanks glad someone else understands

It's like talking to a wall

My neighbour across the green has a camera and light and they activate when I leave my house - I hate it as it's obviously covering the green and my front garden and house. They're able to see anything going on at my front door and records anyone who arrives or leaves my house

My neighbour did the same. Installed at highest point of house. There is no way it can't be capturing our garden. My husband did say I wasn't happy and he ensured us they weren't watching the footage unless they had an issue with intruder etc. they did also get installer back to slightly change the angle. I would speak to them. I still don't feel comfortable when sunbathing and put a parasol up to block it!! But it other than that I carry on as normal.

That bridge has been crossed and they didn't. The point is what are you going to do now?

So you can't see into the neighbours garden from your bedroom windows? I've never lived anywhere where I couldn't.

Then people wonder why the police are too busy to attend real crimes!

Far too many people going to police for nonsense reasons when they've not even tried to deal with the issue themselves, particularly neighbour issues.

I'd hope the police would tell the OP to ask the neighbours and try to resolve the problem themselves first, and not waste police resources when they havn't even tried.

It’s completely reasonable and I’d hate it too. Just because you’re not doing anything illegal in your back garden doesn’t mean it’s acceptable to be filmed. I’d start by asking your neighbours what is covered by their cameras.

Everyone pretty much agrees that it's courtesy to let neighbours know if cameras are being installed.
I too wouldn't want this in an ideal world. Home is your castle and all that....but they have and the only way to find some peace is to call round and explain your concerns and ask to view what the camera is looking at. If they decline then you can move on to neighbourhood watch, community policing etc. all of these will check that you have spoken to the neighbour first.

We have a camera for our driveway and one for our back garden as there were a lot of break-ins and car thefts around the time we moved in. I never would have dreamed of asking our neighbours for permission, but I don't record their property and would be happy to show them the feeds if they ask. They have their own cameras though so must feel the same way!

If the police showed up at my door without my neighbour even speaking to me about their (looper and paranoid) concerns first then we would not have a good relationship going forward.

i assume you are going to continue to ask this question until atleast 1 person agrees with you so that you can then say 'i told you so'.

have a mature and grown up conversation with your NDN and politely ask to see the footage as you are concerned their camera is infringing onto your property.

i have a camera at the front of the house and at the back and i would be more than happy to share footage to anyone who asks.

but by you responses you are either very young or as i suspect already fallen out with them next door?

To be honest, I don’t think I’d care this much - in fact the benefit of having cctv would outweigh the boring privacy of me hanging up my washing 😂 in the event of criminal activity, at least someone would have proof.

both myself and my next door neighbours have had cameras recently installed in the front as we’ve had deliberate damage to our cars. They know they can come to me if their camera doesn’t cover something

no one can be arsed watching cctv unless there’s been an incident, I can assure you that

I have cameras following a break in. Single parent, they make me feel more comfortable. Often the height is due to power or just because the installer recommends it’s high enough so that someone can’t simply enter and remove it.

You can blank out anything that isn’t your property by setting a zone. I’m sure most people with cameras have no interest in anyone else’s belongings.

I don’t look at my footage very often, have all notifications silenced and clips set to delete after a week.

I’d look at it if something untoward happened.

No waste of police time. Why should she have to approach the neighbours.
Her neighbours can simply deny it, why would they confirm that yes it is covering her garden🙄.

She definitely cannot insist on checking their feed.

She can see clearly at the height they are at, and that they are aimed at an area that covers her back garden.

If her children feel uncomfortable in their own back garden, she has every right to ask the police for advice.

There are laws covering the use of CCTV in housing areas regarding invasion of privacy so might be worth reporting them to the police for unauthorised snooping?

I live in the middle of nowhere surrounded by fields with only cows looking into my garden. I certainly wouldn't want neighbours filming me or my family.

OP I sincerely hope you manage to reach a solution as it's clear you're unhappy. I don't know why you aren't able to discuss this with your neighbours, as that would be the quickest way to get the answer you're looking for. But if you can't then you could try the council or your local CPO. Be aware they are likely to ask if you have spoken to your neighbour first though.

To your point about asking for my neighbours views or permission before installing my cameras - no I did not. My cameras don't cover any part of their property so I don't need their permission.

Under GDPR laws in the UK are they allowed to record / video your back garden.
I'm not in the UK but in Ireland you are not supposed to have a Ring type doorbell that can video people passing outside your property on the street.
We have a front garden so ours is ok.
But the biggest alarm company in the country wouldn't fit a camera on the front door as it broke GDPR tules as far as they were concerned.

Yet the police often ask householders for footage if investigating a crime.