Why So Many of Us Choose CCTV Systems for Home and Business Security
It’s well-known that CCTV cameras provide highly effective levels of protection for residential and commercial property. That’s why there are so many of them about. CCTV doesn’t miss a trick, acting as a major deterrent for any would-be criminal.
When CCTV Captures More Than Expected
But sometimes close circuit surveillance can go beyond the call of duty and capture more than was originally intended.
Crime Outside Your Property – Are You Involved?
In terms of home security in particular, what if a crime, like a break-in at another property or an assault, is picked up outside the perimeter of your residence?
Your home surveillance could become a key part of the investigation - and you may find yourself being contacted by the constabulary, to see whether your cameras have picked up any of the illegal activity.
To Share or Not to Share: A Personal Decision
This may or may not become a dilemma, depending on your viewpoint.
Some people would be happy to handover footage, on the basis that anything they could do to secure a conviction would be of benefit, if it helped to make the local area a safer place to live. Alternatively, others might be reluctant to hand over footage, fearing that it could put their family in danger.
The Legal Standpoint
So, where do you stand legally if the police do approach you, to see whether you might have any incriminating evidence in a case picked up by your CCTV cameras which they are trying to build?
You aren’t obliged to hand anything over to them BUT they could take further action, if you refused to comply. The irony is that you could then find yourself in trouble for an activity that had absolutely nothing to do with you.
In extreme cases, if you are unwilling to assist, but the police insist on seeing what your CCTV has picked up, they do have it within their powers to take out a search warrant.
Protecting Your Family and Privacy
If you found yourself in this position and were reluctant to handover footage because you might fear reprisals against your own family, you can always seek legal advice.
At the same time, the police should be able to come to your assistance. It may be reassuring to know that if you feel your safety might be compromised, the police don’t have to identify the source of the footage.
Will You Need to Go to Court?
Also, it is highly unlikely that you would be called upon to attend court as a witness. Normally, a police officer would give a witness statement, confirming how and when the footage was obtained, but not from where – and that would be the end of your involvement.
On rare occasions, however, you may be required to provide a witness statement and even be called on to give evidence in court. This would normally only happen if the legitimacy or accuracy of the CCTV footage was called into question.
If This Happens to You
Either way, if you ever find that your CCTV is required to help assist in a crime investigation that has taken place beyond the boundaries of your own property, the best thing to do is to consult the police or take legal advice.
Don’t Be Put Off – CCTV Is Still Worth It
Above all, don’t let this put you off having security cameras in the first place. The major priority is to keep your own home safe and secure - CCTV can go a long way to ensuring that is the case. What may or may not happen beyond the boundary of your property should really have no bearing on your own decision-making about the measures in protecting your property.
Cameras at the Ready: CCTV Installation in Birmingham and Beyond
If you live in the Birmingham or Great Midlands area, are looking to have CCTV cameras installed at your property, AND want expert advice on bespoke security camera options - leave it to Justice Fire & Security to survey, install and maintain all the equipment on your behalf.
The first thing we’ll do is send out our experienced engineers to provide a free and detailed site survey. They’ll advise on the best approach to take and where and an appropriate number of cameras – to ensure that the system is highly effective, east-to-manage and operates within all the necessary legal guidelines.
Justice Fire & Security are based in Birmingham and work extensively throughout the West Midlands, covering Warwickshire, Worcestershire, Staffordshire, Shropshire, Leicestershire and Northamptonshire.
To book your free CCTV site survey, call us today on 0345 468 0927.
