Verisure Security

[renegadefm]

Last year we had Verisure Security system added because someone was going round damaging cars, so we decided to add cameras at the back and front of the house, especially as I work night shifts, it makes my partner feel safer too. 

 

So the front camera monitors the front of our property and our car parked on the road which was what we wanted to catch any criminal activity. 

 

Then my partner went out to our car this morning, and there was a nasty dig on the bumper, so checked back through the security footage, and it looks like a car did hit it, but drove off, but the clarity of the footage was very poor, you couldn't even make out the colour of the car that drove off. 

 

So we took the footage into our local Police station thinking they might be able to investigate further, but they said without clear dash cam footage they can't do anything. 

 

They went onto explain that did we realise having personal security like Verisure means if your filming a public area or road isn't allowed by law. 

 

So I said but surely if it makes us feel more secure and catches criminal activity it's in our and the polices interest. They said they kind of agree, but the reality is it's not concidered legal to film part of a street. 

 

Shops can do it, but apparently you need a licence. 

 

So why are we encouraged to have home security, Verisure is always advertised on the tv for example. But if it's no legal it doesn't make sense having it. 

 

Am I missing something here? 

[ToraToraTora]

...I'm also wondering about dash cams now! Surely they record numberplates etc all the time. Is there some kind of exemption?

[bhg481]

Dashcams are illegal in some countries, Austria for example.

[renegadefm]

It's bizarre because the police officer said dash cams are fine, yet they still film public places, in fact I would say more than the camera on my house. 

So that doesn't make much sense. 

 

What annoyed me is we went there for help and to report a hit and run basically, but we're made to feel guilty for filming a public area. 

 

I just damages my faith in the police. 

[Canary42]

In the past I've left my dashcam running when parking on my drive - getting lots of footage of passing people - yet that's allegedly legal ? ? ?

[renegadefm]

Canary42, 

Exactly, it doesn't make sense does it?

 

Some car insurance companies offer better deals if you have a dash cam fitted recording from both the front and rear of the vehicle. 

 

Maybe that's the loop hole that makes using dash cams legal. 

 

I think where it gets a bit dangerous is if a pedophile has a dash cam and is using it to purposely obtain footage of children.

 

Schools have a strict policy that parents are not allowed to video or take pictures at any school event, like sports day, or Christmas events. 

 

So I guess this is where using a dash cam to purposely record a child's activity could be a serious issue. 

 

You could argue some house insurance companies offer better insurance cover, and cheaper if you have a security system. 

 

It seems a fine line between using cameras to protect our belongings, and stalking the public. 

[New Judge]

"Dashcams are illegal in some countries, Austria for example."

And Portugal, to name another. Which demonstrates how ridulously out of skew "data protection" legislation has become in some countries.

Throwing the baby out with the bathwater doesn't quite seem to cover this utter stupidity.

[Canary42]

It seems we've become a very sick society where we have to restrict the activity of 95% of the populace because of possible abuse/misuse by the other 5%.  (These figures are arbitrary, but you get my point)

The ban on parents filming school sports is a typical example.

We don't ban driving because some drivers are dangerous - what's the difference ?

[New Judge]

"Dashcams are illegal in some countries, Austria for example."

And Portugal, to name another. Which demonstrates how ridulously out of skew "data protection" legislation has become in some countries.

Throwing the baby out with the bathwater doesn't quite seem to cover this utter stupidity.

[davebro3]

I (mistakenly it seems) thought it was legal to film anything going on in public.

On the cop shows the perps often ask for the (TV camera) filming to stop - the cops always say it's legal & allowed.