Neighbours

My neighbours (I only have one lot) are a bloody nightmare. They have stolen mail, flytipped on my garden and sent workpeople to trespass on my property without my permission. The CCTV cameras are there to catch their antics and they know it.

Caught the CF NDN flytipping, despite cameras and warning notice. Put note through door with a print out of thumb nails and a threat to go to police if it was not cleared up within 24 hours. He was out at 6.15 next morning clearing it up - sort of. 2 days later burly nephews made him come back and clear up the bits he had left.

Id like them to come around and ask to "see the footage". Ill tell them yes you can see it but I will show it to the police as well.

When we installed cameras we invited neighbors to have a look on the screen, we didn't want to upset anyone.
They were not bothered. There are laws as has been said and you are entitled to your privacy.

So nice to hear other peoples views and issues they have had. Thank you Gransnet.

We have two cameras quite high up which cover parts of the road and they are invaluable as they have caught night time prowlers trying car doors (one was convicted) and also a car crash which happened right in view of our camera. I don't think the neighbours mind, they haven't mentioned it. We never look at the footage unless something happens, then we take a look.

I think there’s something about rules governing CCTV on the Information Commissioner’s web site. Have a look. Gather information, do your research before you approach your neighbour. Then, start off easy going but if you need to take matters further, you’ve got all your ducks lined up. Knowledge is power.

It is not against the law to have a camera covering your property and that of your neighbour. It is also fine for cameras to cover pavements and roads etc. If your neighbour makes a subject access request you must provide them with any footage where they are identifiable according to GDPR.

You can often block out areas on the camera when you view it on an app, so even if the lens means it can see your garden, they can have that area blacked out so nothing is recorded in that zone. I would approach them and ask if they are able to do this, and say you would prefer it not to cover your property.

One of my neighbours has CCTV, they have a van with tools in and it’s to prevent the theft of that. They asked us when we moved in if we minded it covering us and we said no. We don’t sit out the front and often just do gardening, but we know them well and get on too so it’s not something that worries us.

It has come in useful a few times! Caught another neighbour cutting down our tree(!) and a car crash outside our house.

I would start off by being a bit lighthearted about it and maybe make a comment along the lines of “I hang my washing in my nightie/in the nude and would hate anyone to be subjected to that first thing in the morning”! Then take it from there. Could be they have had problems in the past and haven’t really considered that they can see into your garden.
We put up a security light at the back of our house which kept on coming on during the night. Because we slept at the front of the house we weren’t aware of this. After around nine months we had a note put through our door from a neighbour telling us that the light was shining into their bedroom every time it went off and that they had barely slept since we installed it. We were mortified although somewhat puzzled why it had taken them so long to say something.

look up the law on it. there was recently a case in the news and it stated that the camera must not encroach on any neighbours property t all.. the camera owner wouldn't adjust it when asked nicely so was taken to court and lost the case..cost him dearly financially.
hope yours is a minor thing that can be cleared up by talking.

Thank you for your replies. I will carefully talk to them.

If the camera does include your garden Willow it's illegal. Ellan's suggestion is a good one to get a conversation started. I think I'm right in saying that if you have a camera connected to your door bell, you have to be extremely careful about it's range.

I would talk to them sooner rather than later or it will become difficult to bring up.

It would not be rude to ask what area the camera covers. If it includes your garden ask for it to be moved as it makes you uncomfortable being watched.

Yes that’s an idea. Thank you

They definitely can it’s such a small area their side and cameras have a wide range.

Perhaps ask the neighbour if they've had any " unwelcome guests " around to warrant the positioning of the camera ? Just to get started so to speak.

Might be a good idea to ask them. You might think they can see into your garden where in fact due to the camera angle they cannot