My neighbour installed a CCTV aiming at my front door, What can I do?

Question

I told my neighour to de-install it, he said it is his right. But it goes without saying that it imfringes my privacy. As expected, the police said it is not their duty. What practical tips you can give?

Answer 1

Why is he aiming it at your front door?
Is it not possible to build a barrier/fence to prevent your front door being filmed. Or a security light, activated by movement outside your door, which comes on and shines really brightly directly into his camera lens, preventing any recording taking place. I'd be very annoyed if I were you, and would get some legal advice before you do anything.

Answer 2

Not sure where you are located, but in the US the measure of infringement upon your privacy is based upon your actual expectation of privacy. Now, you might say that anyone expects some privacy on their own front steps, but would you stand there naked? Probably not. The expectation of privacy is basically saying that, if you are knowingly in the view of someone who is standing in a public place, then you essentially have no reasonable expectation of privacy. My advice would be to create some sort of barrier or other device to block his view. As opposed to what some of the other posters have said, do NOT go over and spray paint or damage his camera. He'll have you on film, then he can go against you criminally for vandalism and trespassing. If you really want to go after the guy with the camera, you could sue him civilly, claiming harassment and mental stress. If anything that would force him to present to a court a "reasonable" purpose for having a camera pointed at your house.

Answer 3

Get a nice laser, point it back into his lens, and leave it on. He might not appreciate that much!!

But seriously, if there is a window or glass that can see into your house from the front door, I could see that as an invasion of privacy and would take legal action. It is against the law in CA to do that.

CA penal code 647(k)(1):

Any person who looks through a hole or opening, into, or
otherwise views, by means of any instrumentality, including, but not limited to, a periscope, telescope, binoculars, camera, motion picture camera, or camcorder, the interior of a bedroom, bathroom, changing room, fitting room, dressing room, or tanning booth, or the interior of any other area in which the occupant has a reasonable expectation of privacy, with the intent to invade the privacy of a person or persons inside.

Answer 4

You don't say what country you are in but in the UK that breaks the Data Protection Act: A: Prior to instal you must be informed in writing with a right to deny B: He must display a notice to say that he has installed CCTV to protect his property and C: He should not be able to monitor your property at all unless you have given written consent. Ap[proach your local Council and ask their Enforcment Officers to visit him and also consult an attorney /solicitor. It is an annoying practice but many people do it, I advise and install CCTV as a Professional and the amount of problems caused by individuals just installing cameras without proper redress to the law has a very detrimental effct to public safety

Answer 5

Taken from the source web page:

Human Rights?

It is possible that CCTV usage could well be viewed as a possible infringement/invasion of your Human Rights under the Human Rights Act 1998.

So what do you do if your Neighbour is pointing their CCTV at you?

The Human Rights Act of 1998 could assist you and we would advise you to fully investigate this with a solicitor who has expert specialist knowledge in this area.

e.g: "Article 8: The Right to Respect for Private and Family Life, Home and Correspondence" could well infringe on your privacy by your neighbour

We have an overview of the Human Rights Act currently available.

The HRA is superior to all other legislation and should always take first preference. We advise you to seek specialised knowledge from a Solicitor who is an expert within Human Rights Issues and Legislation, it is an extremely complex area of legislation.

Incase you was thinking of following the advice already given here of defacing or otherwise tampering with the camera in anyway be warned that this will be viewed as an act of criminal damage and will see you facing charges. Don't do anything rash, keep the law on your side and re-involve the police stating your human rights to privacy

Answer 6

Hiya,
I Have personally had to deal with this situation unfortunately. The person who has installed the CCTV should be displaying yellow triangle stating that they have the camera in operation. Secondly the camera should only be pointing to their property.
I advise you to do as i did and contact your local council and if you get no joy there go to a solicitor, your first hour or so with the solicitor is free with some practise's. If you employ a solicitor on your behalf they will be able to send a letter to the person that is invading your privacy and they should also send a copy to you so that you know exactly what has been said. Your solicitor should inform them that the camera is to be removed to stop legal action been taken against them.
Good Luck !!

Answer 7

Not much you can do if he is being unreasonable and the Police won't help. Please, please don't vandalise the camera in any way. Bythe sounds of your neighbour, he will report you to the Police and vandalism is in their duty. Try putting up something to obscure his view of you front door or ask him to move the camera so it is not pointing to your door.
Other than that, consult a solicitor or the CAB. The solicitor may do no more than write a rather official looking latter quoting this law, sub section blah blah etc but it will hopefully be enough to scare your neighbour.

Answer 8

The police are correct in its not their duty. You are describing a CIVIL matter not a CRIMINAL one.
Talk to a Lawyer, not the Cops

However if you take the suggestions of most of the answerers here, you will make it a Matter for the cops. and YOU would be the Criminal.
Criminal trespass
Damage to property
Unlawful Discharge of a Firearm
Even arguing about it to your neighbor could be Disturbing the Public Peace

TALK
TO
A
LAWYER

not other idiots on yahoo answers with bad advice that will land YOU in Jail

Answer 9

firstly yeah you are right and your neighbour is wrong.
Although it is his right ot install cctv camera's on his property, he has to take reasonable steps to ensure there is minimal collateral intrusion to other people, including the public street and other people private property.

He is intruding on your right granted by the european high court, under the convention of human rights.
the particular article grants the right to a private and family life.

However the police cannot take action as they have no legal power over the civil intrusion of your rights.

Your next step should be to go to the citizens advice beurau and see iof they can sort out an intimediatery for you to try and sort it out civily.

Or your other option is to go to a solicitor get them to right a snotty letter re-iterating the point that the intrusion is his fault and can face legal battle.

and if that doesnt get his sorry *** in line then just take him to court.


or you could just ignore it and save yourself the time and expense

Answer 10

Find an angle where you can aim for the camera but not be seen by it.

Go out before dark,a couple of hours later get to the above space while avoiding getting in view of the camera and smash it to pieces by throwing rocks or something at it.