Hidden Camera at Home - legal?

daithiocondun

Hi everyone,

I live in my own apartment which I bought a few years ago. I have custom designed the entire place and decorated it myself. The things is that I have pretty frequent partys and booze-ups with mates and they often bring other friends with them and sometimes things get taken and broken.

I have custom designed the bathroom so that I have really vintage wall paper and those old steel-plated, vintage ads for cigarettes, movies, drink etc. For the last few months someone has been tearing the paper in places and pulling the ads from the wall, a little at a time. This is really frustrating as I have lots of people over and I can't tell who it is.

Someone suggested that I put a hidden camera in the bathroom on party nights to see who is doing the damage on purpose. I know it sounds creepy to put a camera in a bathroom - but it's just to see who is damaging my property so often recently. Does anyone know if this would be legal? Is it legal to have a hidden camera in a private dwelling, and in a bathroom??

Paulw

Worth a read for you - http://www.thejournal.ie/hidden-cameras-legal-loophole-1696346-Sep2014/

daithiocondun

OK. Well this is to do with public places. I'm talking about a private dwelling. And it's not for any "sexual" reasons. In fact, I can position the camera so it does not face the toilet or shower. My question is not about recording naked people, it's about recording in a private dwelling full-stop. But thanks for the post, it does clarify a few things. I don't think I'd chance it though. Better safe than sorry. I'll just have to monitor things better and check the bathroom after each person uses it.

kippy

daithiocondun wrote: »

OK. Well this is to do with public places. I'm talking about a private dwelling. And it's not for any "sexual" reasons. In fact, I can position the camera so it does not face the toilet or shower. My question is not about recording naked people, it's about recording in a private dwelling full-stop. But thanks for the post, it does clarify a few things. I don't think I'd chance it though. Better safe than sorry. I'll just have to monitor things better and check the bathroom after each person uses it.

It's unfortunate that you have "friends" who would do that.
TBH,
If it were me, I'd cancel all meetups in your gaff in future.

daithiocondun

I like having sessions in my place. And I don't think it's one of my close friends. It's more than likely a tag-along who I don't know very well.

conorh91

daithiocondun wrote: »

Someone suggested that I put a hidden camera in the bathroom on party nights to see who is doing the damage on purpose.

Sounds like they have a bigger vendetta against you than the person weeing on your vintage wallpaper.

People have been prosecuted for doing this, let alone the danger of a civil claim by innocent parties whom you might record.

davo10

If someone found the camera, how would you feel about it being posted on Facebook/twitter that you videoed people in your toilet. That would follow you for the rest of your life.

con___manx1

If there is someone you suspect of being jealous of your apartment watch her like a hawk. I doubt a lad would even think to rip little pieces of wall paper in your bathroom.its most definitely a bitchy jealous woman.

BornToKill

Get a toilet attendant.

Mikros

I don't think there would be any legal issues, presuming the camera was only pointing at the picture and there could be no argument about capturing images that might distress people. I am open to correction but I don't see what cause of action a civil claim might have, and from the Data Protection Commission itself:

Domestic use of CCTV systems.

The processing of personal data kept by an individual and concerned solely with the management of his/her personal, family or household affairs or kept by an individual for recreational purposes is exempt from the provisions of the Acts. This exemption would generally apply to the use of CCTVs in a domestic environment.

But as was said above it is very dodgy ground to be on given people have a very high expectation of privacy in a bathroom. Even if you found out who it was on CCTV how would you confront the person? Tell them you were secretly recording them in the bathroom? Imagine how that would sound.

If you don't want to screen your guests better and continue to have sessions, I would just take down or move anything valuable from where people might damage them.

Wheelnut

What about putting up a sign that says there is a camera in the bathroom? or maybe you're afraid the sign would be stolen by the culprit!

Bepolite

Frequent parties that involve so many people you don't know who they are and they break and nick things; I bet your neighbours love you.

the_syco

Put a camera showing who went into the bathroom (from the hallway), and you'll probably have a fair idea from watching who goes in. Anyone finds the camera, and you can say it's for security, which it kinda is.

Arbiter of Good Taste

Bepolite wrote: »

Frequent parties that involve so many people you don't know who they are and they break and nick things; I bet your neighbours love you.

x1,000

Cushie Butterfield

Are you sure that the wallpaper isn't peeling due to condensation? Is the bathroom properly ventilated & have you treated the wallpaper with anything to protect it from the adverse effects of humidity i.e. blistering in places or slowly peeling away from the wall?

_Brian

Grow up and have this out with your so called friends.

Someone is being a dick, no need you doing the same. Confront this problem rather than sneaking round like a perv.

If someone realises there is a hidden camera in the bathroom your going to come in for a serious slapping - possible rightly so.

sbsquarepants

Is this a house or a brothel? I mean how many parties could you realistically throw in any given week / month? You must have some vague idea of who it is or at least what group they are from. Just keep a closer eye on them and be a bit more selective about who you let into your place of business eh private abode.

the_syco

Ask those who you trust, as these people are usually known to do this, or have bragged about it.

skallywag

Bepolite wrote: »

Frequent parties that involve so many people you don't know who they are and they break and nick things; I bet your neighbours love you.

The OP has come on here with a valid question, I fail to see why some people have to respond in such a manner, which is about as useful to his query as being poked in the eye with a pointy stick.

OP, you have my full sympathy, but I would certainly think twice before placing a camera in any area of your dwelling where someone would have a reasonable expectation of privacy, such as in a bathroom. The point which another poster already made about you being rumbled is also well worth considering, you could forever be known as 'the guy who had the camera in the jacks'.

alanhiggyno1

i know how to solve it...stop letting tag alongs into ur house and stop having parties...bet the neighbours get on well with u lol.i know i wouldnt

Esel

daithiocondun wrote: »

I like having sessions in my place. And I don't think it's one of my close friends. It's more than likely a tag-along who I don't know very well.

Don't allow tag-alongs then.

Also, consider reducing the number of friends you invite; vary the list each time. By a process of elimination, you should be able to narrow the list of suspects considerably.

rab!dmonkey

Why stop there? All of the best experiments are double-blind. Have someone else draw up the guest list and send the invites - this should help eliminate any inadvertent bias on your part :rolleyes:

Esel

rab!dmonkey wrote: »

Why stop there? All of the best experiments are double-blind. Have someone else draw up the guest list and send the invites - this should help eliminate any inadvertent bias on your part :rolleyes:

Nothing constructive to add, then?

Five Lamps

daithiocondun wrote: »

I like having sessions in my place. And I don't think it's one of my close friends. It's more than likely a tag-along who I don't know very well.

Stop having parties or just get over it and accept it as wear and tear. I would have thought you'd have other damage as well.

The other thing to consider - if as Party Host extraordinaire it was discovered that you were recording your guests while in the bathroom you can expect to rapidly become the loneliest man/woman in the 'hood. Think of your reputation and not the wallpaper.

bnagrrl

Could you lock the bathroom and then you could inspect it after anyone has used it?

Five Lamps

bnagrrl wrote: »

Could you lock the bathroom and then you could inspect it after anyone has used it?

Put in an attendant who can dispense perfumes and eau de colognes and lollipops. You'll have the cost of the wallpaper back in a jiffy.

You've also got to factor in that the cost of the camera kit, cabling and hiding it may be more than your wallpaper.

nuac

1. Wall paper in a bathroom?

2. Don't use hidden cameras. Not nice.

3. Cut down on the number of parties and guests.

4. Prohibit tag-a-longs