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Domestic CCTV

CCTV is a modern and affordable method of protecting your home. When having CCTV installed you should ensure that it respects the privacy of your neighbours and visitors to the area.

If you set up your system so it captures only images within the boundary of your private domestic property (including your garden) then the data protection laws will not apply to you.

If your system captures images of people outside the boundary of your private domestic property such as in neighbours’ homes or gardens, shared spaces, or on a public footpath or a street, then the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA18) will apply to you, and you will need to ensure your use of CCTV complies with these laws. These are the ‘data protection laws’.

The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) recommends that you use CCTV responsibly to protect the privacy of others.

Complaints and/or disputes in relation to the use of domestic CCTV systems should be directed to the ICO.

Information Commissioners Office

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) regulates and enforces the Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA) which covers images being recorded by CCTV cameras.

If your CCTV captures images of people outside the boundary of your private domestic property – for example, in neighbours’ homes or gardens, shared spaces, or on a public footpath or a street – then the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the DPA will apply to you, and you will need to ensure your use of CCTV complies with these laws.

The ICO has published guidance on the use of domestic CCTV.

If you have any questions or complaints about the use of domestic CCTV, you can contact the ICO: