Releasing cctv footage to general public

Not sure if this is the correct section or not so apologies in advance.

Well I was on facebook today and the owner of the local newsagents posted an image from the cctv in his store, the image was of two people who he claimed stole from his store.

What is the legality surrounding this?

I would have thought he would not have the power to release images like this.

He then followed the thieves outside the shop and snapped two photo's of them and appealed for the public's help in identifying them.

Death and Taxes

tolow wrote: »

Not sure if this is the correct section or not so apologies in advance.

Well I was on facebook today and the owner of the local newsagents posted an image from the cctv in his store, the image was of two people who he claimed stole from his store.

What is the legality surrounding this?

I would have thought he would not have the power to release images like this.

He then followed the thieves outside the shop and snapped two photo's of them and appealed for the public's help in identifying them.

Fair play to him if they robbed him they deserve it.

arybvtcw0eolkf

My local does the same.

Scroats and Roma you have been framed!.

I agree with you, but i'm just curious whether he would land himself in any hassle over this?

hawkeyethenoo

OP, What did you rob?

ScumLord

tolow wrote: »

I agree with you, but i'm just curious whether he would land himself in any hassle over this?

Yes, if he can't prove they robbed him they can sue him.

Where To

I don't think there's anything wrong with publishing the images, but making the accusations could land him in a bit of bother.

My name is URL

ScumLord wrote: »

Yes, if he can't prove they robbed him they can sue him.

I've seen a few shops with pictures up but with no claims of any wrongdoing accompanying them. Just an appeal for people to help identify them.

Unless they're been libeled I don't think the shop is doing anything wrong. Putting a pic up isn't libelous.

3ndahalfof6

Tis crazy, how much time did it do.

Chips Lovell

Yep, its the accusation of theft, not the picture that could be the problem.

kirving

The shop owner would want to be very sure that he could prove the allegations.

A friend of mine got a great video of a few guys stealing his laptop from his apartments. Best part was, they lived downstairs and CCTV followed them the whole way!

TPD

Could the shop owner not just put the pictures up with the caption 'This person allegedly shoplifted' or something?

franktheplank

I think it could still be libelous even without a comment saying 'wanted for shoplifting'

I'm no expert on libel law but I think deciding on whether something is libelous is based on whether a reasonable person might be led to belief that you had done some wrong when you hadn't.

If i see a CCTV image of a neighbour displayed in this manner in a shop, I'll reasonably assume he's being accused of shoplifting, whether or not it's explicitly stated.

Let's imagine the front page of a tabloid has a picture of Gay Byrne with the headline "Lock up the Peados", i think that should/would be libelous without having to explicitly claim Gay Byrne is a peadophile. (sorry Gay!)