CCTV installed, overlooking my property?

Ghandee

Hi.

As title suggests, my next door neighbour has installed cctv cameras at the rear and front of her house.

The one at the rear is fitted above her back door, and looks straight ahead covering her backgarden (I have no issue with this)

The one at the front is positioned at the corner of her house, just below the roof, and is in a 45 degree angle, and as such is clearly covering my front yard, front door, and my bay window at the front.

We wouldnt exactly see eye to eye, so approaching her is not a possibilty, County council tell me that they can do nothing as it would be a civil matter, where does that leave me?

Obviously their are benefits to having your property overlooked (might come in handy some day) but equally, it is hard to relax in your own premises knowing your on camera.

Just thought I'd ask here as to what any of your opinions/experience would be in this matter.

Paulw

With some CCTV, while the camera may seem large, the field of view may be narrow. It may not see your property at all. It may have been placed there due to cable issues, to make it easier to connect.

If it has a large field of view, and can see your property, then the resolution on the camera would probably not be good enough for the home owner to identify people coming on to their property, never mind your property.

Without actually seeing exactly what it is recording, you are really only guessing what can be seen by it.

valleyoftheunos

there is a decided case the name of which I forget but that holds that if the camera only covers that part of your property which would normally be visiable to the public, ie from the road, then there is no issue.

Procrastastudy

valleyoftheunos wrote: »

there is a decided case the name of which I forget but that holds that if the camera only covers that part of your property which would normally be visiable to the public, ie from the road, then there is no issue.

+1 Cant for the life of me remember where I saw this - its bugging me now!

valleyoftheunos

GCDLawstudent wrote: »

+1 Cant for the life of me remember where I saw this - its bugging me now!

Right to Privacy and invasion of privacy, think it pops up on Constitutional and Tort courses.

Procrastastudy

Checked both texts (quicky) couldnt find it hence the bugging!

monkeypants

Could you make a request to see the footage under the data protection act?

whiteonblu

Ghandee wrote: »

Hi.

As title suggests, my next door neighbour has installed cctv cameras at the rear and front of her house.

The one at the rear is fitted above her back door, and looks straight ahead covering her backgarden (I have no issue with this)

The one at the front is positioned at the corner of her house, just below the roof, and is in a 45 degree angle, and as such is clearly covering my front yard, front door, and my bay window at the front.

We wouldnt exactly see eye to eye, so approaching her is not a possibilty, County council tell me that they can do nothing as it would be a civil matter, where does that leave me?

Obviously their are benefits to having your property overlooked (might come in handy some day) but equally, it is hard to relax in your own premises knowing your on camera.

Just thought I'd ask here as to what any of your opinions/experience would be in this matter.

Does she have planning permission?This is required in some maybe not all councils though seemingly not enforced. also see here .Now the LUAS is a company and your neighbour is presumably a domestic user so it may be different. I also think if CCTV is covering an area where children are you can complain to the Gardai. I stand to be corrected but know of case where someone who thought, incorrectly, tha someone had cameras trained at a public road where kids play in a housing estate reported to the gardai. the gardai were told that the camera only covered the persons house and driveway where car is and his doorway and they said that was OK. That is second hand knowledge so may not be 100% correct. The data protection Commissioner will be able to advise if they have a role

whiteonblu

monkeypants wrote: »

Could you make a request to see the footage under the data protection act?

Domestic users do nothave to register with the Data protection Commissioner, except possibly if the person works from home

But i am almost sure she cannot film his yard etc. I may be wrong

valleyoftheunos

whiteonblu wrote: »

Domestic users do nothave to register with the Data protection Commissioner, except possibly if the person works from home

But i am almost sure she cannot film his yard etc. I may be wrong

I don't know that the Data Commissioner would have any role here as the neighbour is a private individual and not required to register with the commissioner.

Also see above for the unnamed case in relation to filming someone else's property.

whiteonblu

valleyoftheunos wrote: »

I don't know that the Data Commissioner would have any role here as the neighbour is a private individual and not required to register with the commissioner.

yes right as far as i know

Also see above for the unnamed case in relation to filming someone else's property.

what case is it? I don't think you can film where kids may be. See my mention of garda

OP let us know the situation when you find out

valleyoftheunos

whiteonblu wrote: »

yes right as far as i know

what case is it? I don't think you can film where kids may be. See my mention of garda

OP let us know the situation when you find out

I don't think the fact that children may incidentally filmed at some point is an issue, were that the case filming in public at all would be near impossible.

Paulw

whiteonblu wrote: »

what case is it? I don't think you can film where kids may be. See my mention of garda

There is no law preventing you from filming/photographing children in a public place, especially not a public street.

While you can report it to the Gardai, legally there is nothing they can do about it.

Hippo

GCDLawstudent wrote: »

+1 Cant for the life of me remember where I saw this - its bugging me now!

Atherton v DPP iirc

Fuh Q

OP , you are on CCTV everywhere you go and you dont even know it. Unless you have something to hide you should be glad that this provides extra free security for you.
We have no privacy anymore, google maps/street view, constant tracking by companies ect, its an unfortunate truth...

whiteonblu

Fuh Q wrote: »

OP , you are on CCTV everywhere you go and you dont even know it. Unless you have something to hide you should be glad that this provides extra free security for you.
We have no privacy anymore, google maps/street view, constant tracking by companies ect, its an unfortunate truth...

blurred out

MadsL

Fuh Q wrote: »

Unless you have something to hide.

Ah, the great myth of privacy erosion.

Lets all go to Fuh Q's house with cameras and post the pics here, you have nothing to hide, right?

While you are at it Fuh Q could we have your email address and password, you have nothing to hide, right?

And could you post up your payslip, you have nothing to hide, right?

claregal1

Hi just wondering does anyone have any update on CCTV over looking neighbours property ?

My elderly next door neighbour brought to my attention this morning that the neighbours - single man in his 40's and his elderly mother living directly across from me have a camera installed under their gutters pointing directly at my house . I checked it out and sure enough spotted the camera ... what can I do about this ? To be honest it is actually freaking me out as there is only about 10 yards between our houses and the thought of them been able to see into my bedroom etc is driving me nuts .
This is a top of the range camera from what I can gather not like the usual CCTV cameras you see pointing at front doors etc .
Any advice would be greatly appreciated . Thanks

denismc

claregal1 wrote: »

Hi just wondering does anyone have any update on CCTV over looking neighbours property ?

My elderly next door neighbour brought to my attention this morning that the neighbours - single man in his 40's and his elderly mother living directly across from me have a camera installed under their gutters pointing directly at my house . I checked it out and sure enough spotted the camera ... what can I do about this ? To be honest it is actually freaking me out as there is only about 10 yards between our houses and the thought of them been able to see into my bedroom etc is driving me nuts .
This is a top of the range camera from what I can gather not like the usual CCTV cameras you see pointing at front doors etc .
Any advice would be greatly appreciated . Thanks

Have you considered approaching them directly and voicing your concerns
? They may be quite reasonable.
I have a CCtV setup I got from Maplins a few years ago but other than viewing the coming and goings to my house the system wouldn't be capable of picking up details through glass windows.

Kristopherus

claregal1 wrote: »

Hi just wondering does anyone have any update on CCTV over looking neighbours property ?

My elderly next door neighbour brought to my attention this morning that the neighbours - single man in his 40's and his elderly mother living directly across from me have a camera installed under their gutters pointing directly at my house . I checked it out and sure enough spotted the camera ... what can I do about this ? To be honest it is actually freaking me out as there is only about 10 yards between our houses and the thought of them been able to see into my bedroom etc is driving me nuts .
This is a top of the range camera from what I can gather not like the usual CCTV cameras you see pointing at front doors etc .
Any advice would be greatly appreciated . Thanks

How do you know they're not the decoy cameras?

Robbo

valleyoftheunos wrote: »

I don't know that the Data Commissioner would have any role here as the neighbour is a private individual and not required to register with the commissioner.

Also see above for the unnamed case in relation to filming someone else's property.

It's very much a matter for the DPC, whether the controller meets the threshold for registration or not.

Since this thread was started, the Rynes case in the CJEU was decided. Here it was found that if the CCTV captures public areas, the "personal and household" exemption for data processing cannot be availed of.

Analysis & commentary here.

Pro Hoc Vice

Robbo wrote: »

It's very much a matter for the DPC, whether the controller meets the threshold for registration or not.

Since this thread was started, the Rynes case in the CJEU was decided. Here it was found that if the CCTV captures public areas, the "personal and household" exemption for data processing cannot be availed of.

Analysis & commentary here.

Many thanks for link.

claregal1

I know they are the real deal beacuse when my neighbour mentioned it to me she said that the woman and son I question are sitting inside watching all the going ons on the road and passing comment on who is up to what etc etc .
Can't approach them because they are just weird and keep to themselves . Mentioned it to another neighbour and like myself she is freaked out as well .

Gangu

If the cameras gather your personal data without your consent the ODPC has jurisdiction. Not unreasonably, her office will have expected that you first as ask the neighbour to stop filming your property.

goz83

claregal1 wrote: »

I know they are the real deal beacuse when my neighbour mentioned it to me she said that the woman and son I question are sitting inside watching all the going ons on the road and passing comment on who is up to what etc etc .
Can't approach them because they are just weird and keep to themselves . Mentioned it to another neighbour and like myself she is freaked out as well .

Your neighbour who mentioned this to you sounds like a gossip and a sh1t stirrer.

Your judgement on the neighbours with the cctv is one of self importance and paranoia. If you have an issue with their cameras, then say it to them. Even if they are weird and keep to themselves, that's no reason not to approach about a "genuine concern" for your privacy. You might find that the camera does not capture your window. In either case, grow up and do something about it, or be childish and freaked out with similarly minded people.

claregal1

So I called over this morning on my way to work to ask about the camera . Explained that I wasn't comfortable with the camera been trained on my house and could he reassure me that my property wasn't been filmed . I was basically told F off and he would point his camera where ever he wants that it is on his property and slammed the door in my face ......

frag420

claregal1 wrote: »

So I called over this morning on my way to work to ask about the camera . Explained that I wasn't comfortable with the camera been trained on my house and could he reassure me that my property wasn't been filmed . I was basically told F off and he would point his camera where ever he wants that it is on his property and slammed the door in my face ......

Well at least that was caught on camera!!

On a serious note if it was me I would fix a bracket to my wall with a laser pointing directly at the camera lens. Not sure of the legality of this so dont shoot me but sometimes you need to fight fire with fire...

http://how2dostuff.blogspot.co.uk/2008/05/how-to-blind-camera-using-laser.html

or

buy some cheap security cameras and point them at his front yard, front door etc. See how he likes it...

goz83

claregal1 wrote: »

So I called over this morning on my way to work to ask about the camera . Explained that I wasn't comfortable with the camera been trained on my house and could he reassure me that my property wasn't been filmed . I was basically told F off and he would point his camera where ever he wants that it is on his property and slammed the door in my face ......

Well done. You were the grown up and by your description, he was the child. Now follow the laser advice above, or hang a picture of a nude man in your window for his camera to see

I have CCTV on the front of my property. It covers my garden, part of my neighbours garden (which they have no issue with) and some of the front road too, where one of my cars is parked alot of the time. If a neighbour wanted to see what the cctv captured, I would have no issue showing them and within reason, alleviating their concern.

claregal1

It wouldn't bother me the slightest if it was just capturing the side of my house but it's the whole front of my house . Got a good glimpse off it whilst I was waiting for him to answer the door and it is deft trained on the whole front of my house . Gave a quick wave to the camera when I was coming home this afternoon - childish I know but I just couldn't resist . Will wait until he leaves again and approach his mother and maybe she might be a bit more understanding .

claregal1

Haha thanks but I don't think I'll try the laser thing .
We have an estate manager he is away on holidays so going to speak to him about it when he gets back again .