Everyone has an expectation of privacy in their own home. But for one mum she discovered this had been “violated” after her neighbour’s CCTV camera was angled directly into her back garden.
The anonymous Mumsnet user said she was left stunned when she mistakenly found out that the house next door had been recording her garden and hot tub. Her post on Mumsnet prompted a flurry of concerned responses from fellow posters.
It read: “I found this out by accident, I don’t think I was ever meant to know. Anyway, I knew my neighbour had CCTV installed, and recently found out that it covers all of my driveway and a lot of my garden.
“I’ve even heard/seen the camera swivel when I was in the hot tub! Pretty sure that’s not allowed. But I’ve more recently found out, that their CCTV also records sound, even the teeniest noise is picked up.
“On a rare day off, I’ve had what I thought were private conversations with friends in the top corner of my garden, when everyone else was at work.
“As it turns out, every single word will have been recorded. I feel violated.” Many concerned followers were quick to tell her it was not allowed and told the woman to get the police involved.
One reply read: “Just ask the police to go round and check he isn’t recording or perving on you. CCTV isn’t allowed to encroach on your property or privacy.”
Another added: “You can’t record people in their own environment. I’d be seeking some free lawyer advice as to what your rights are. Good luck.”
The government’s advice on CCTV says people should be honest and transparent with their neighbours when installing CCTV and says it should not be recording other people’s private property without their permission.
