Home security cameras are now a common sight on properties across the UK, with many owners using them to deter burglars and keep watch over their homes. Yet tensions can arise when a neighbour's camera appears to be aimed directly at your home or garden.
First step: talk to your neighbour
Guidance published by Ask The Police sets out what people should do if they are worried about a neighbour's CCTV system. The advice recommends speaking to the neighbour first to see whether the camera can be repositioned so it no longer captures your property.
The guidance acknowledges that CCTV can be a useful tool in fighting crime, but says cameras should be positioned carefully to avoid complaints and possible allegations of privacy violations or harassment. If a neighbour is unwilling or unable to move the camera and concerns remain, the guidance says you may need to seek legal advice from a solicitor.
When data protection rules apply
The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) also explains that the rules can change depending on what a camera records. If a system captures only images within the owner's private home and garden, data protection law generally does not apply, but filming beyond those boundaries can bring the footage under data protection rules.
That can include recording a neighbour's garden, shared areas or a public street, rather than just the camera owner's own property. The person operating the system is responsible for handling recordings properly, and the ICO advises camera owners to minimise intrusion into other people's privacy.
Your rights and next steps
The ICO recommends that people concerned about being filmed raise the issue with the camera owner where possible. It also provides guidance for people who believe a home CCTV system is recording them, including information about their data protection rights.
However, a camera pointing towards a property does not automatically mean that the neighbour has broken the law. The circumstances, including what is actually being recorded and how the system is used, matter when assessing whether there is a privacy or legal issue.
If talking to the neighbour does not resolve the problem, people can consult the ICO's guidance or seek independent legal advice about their options. Anyone who believes the cameras are being used as part of harassment or stalking should consider contacting the police.
