Taking Pictures Of A Suspected Criminal

[hollie1586]

Would it be an offence on my part to take a picture of somebody on my land who I suspect is taking part in criminal activity, and give the pic to the police? I know there are rights to privacy laws but how far do they go?

[ToraToraTora]

there is no general restriction on taking pictures regardless of what land they are on. You say they park right outside your house, you mean like on your front garden? If it's in the street then it is not your land.

[Peter Pedant]

It is lawful Hollie to photograph on your own land whatever you like.

You can also CCTV them -and even if it slips over a bit to the street, the ICO has written somewhere that it is OK.

I do this regularly. If someone robbed my house and my neighbour said I saw it all and didnt think I was allowed to photograph it, I would think and probably say O bloody hell....

Oh a cyclist stole my bloo crip card from the car
and a traffic warden thought it was so odd ( which it kinda was: a cyclist wouldnt have anything to do with a car's parking card )
that he used his photo machine to immortalise it
and a few months later card and crim endeed up in court.....

( and we got a ticket from another warden )

[Eve]

Just speak to the police. They are round here in unmarked cars a fair bit, I didn't realise for a while - probably thought I was giving them some right funny looks, checking out if they looked suspicious.

If not the police, they can keep an eye on things should they feel it is something to investigate. Maybe keep a note of dates and times and any details such as car number plates and descriptions.

Taking photos could be risky, especially if you were seen.

A security camera for general house security may be a safer idea if that would cover also where they park, it might stop them parking there anyway if they are up to no good and see that there is a camera which might pick them up. It might look suspicious if a camera suddenly appears trained on where they usually park.

[Peter Pedant]

Eve is implying that taking a photo of a poss crim will make them attack you or the house.

They wont. Somehow they know you gotta picture of themselves and therefore er dont knife you or anything when you are out shopping.

And similarly installing CCTV doesnt make their behaviour worse - it makes their behaviour outside your house better.

anyway getting away from should you or shouldnt you
you have a right to do so if you want

[anneasquith]

telephone crimestoppers.

[Tuvok]

Here's a thought - they might be tapping into your broadband! It does happen!

Have you got a password on your router? If not, set one up.

Why not also have a look at the router homepage before you see the care, and then when you see the car and if you see anything different connected.....

[furrypusscat]

The way I understand the law is that if on your land, ie within the boundaries of your private property you can take pictures. However, if on a public street outside your perimeters then you should have a license covering you for public surveillance and without such a license you would be committing an offence. I offer my apologies if I have that wrong but that is how I have interpreted the law, hence CCTV Operators have to be licensed.

[shoota]

That is wrong FP, no-one needs a licence to photograph in a public place unless you are doing a fashion shoot in Trafalgar Square.
See my link on p1.

[Peter Pedant]

from the ico site
http://ico.org.uk/Global/faqs/cctv#f1D16765F-E3A6-4397-8D70-99EE6D7516AA
and it says this ( about CCTV )
Can I, or my neighbour, use CCTV?

If the cameras are installed on residential property and are for personal domestic use, they are unlikely to breach the Data Protection Act. This is because the use of CCTV cameras for domestic purposes, for example, protecting a home from burglary, is exempt from the data protection principles, even if the camera overlooks the street or other areas near the house. If you are concerned about the use of domestic CCTV, it may be worth contacting your local police. However, if you or your neighbour are using CCTV for business purposes, you'll need to comply with the Act

( oh and if you do contact the police they say they arent interested )

Honestly we are making a bit of a meal about this

Shoota - really good site - which basically says the same

[furrypusscat]

Thanks shoota. Hadn't read your link, however, I think it may depend on what you will use the photos for. I would be very careful and personally I would phone the Police who could then do necessary vehicle license checks and possible follow up with surveillance if it looked dodgy.

[hollie1586]

Thanks for all your answers. Police were informed and without saying too much, its a good job that i did report it!!

[Peter Pedant]

OMG we havent had a days discussion on - theres a fellow outside with a bally-clava on, shall i phone the police ?