The importance of a cctv policy

Are you a business owner who is considering installing a CCTV system to protect your business from intruders and to provide real-time monitoring of your premises? If you are, or if you already have a CCTV system installed you may have heard of a CCTV policy, we are going to help explain what a CCTV policy is and the importance of having one in place within your business.

What is a CCTV Policy?

A CCTV policy is created to explain the use of a CCTV system within commercial premises, the policy is also used to justify the use of the footage and explain why visitors and employees are being filmed on the premises. Within the policy, there will be a range of information on what type of CCTV is being set up and the specific reasons it is set up in that area.

Does a business need a CCTV policy in place?

The simple answer is yes, to comply with GDPR (General Data Protection Legislation) you must have a CCTV policy in place, this is because all surveillance carried outside of someone’s private property comes under the GDPR act which was set up in 2018. These rules are put in place to ensure that your CCTV system meets all the legal regulations. Below are some of the rules a business must follow in order to use a CCTV system:

• Employers must register as a data controller by notifying the ICO (The Information Commissioner’s) and outline the purpose of using CCTV at their commercial premises. The footage collected cannot legally be used for any other purpose.

• All employees should be notified that they are being recorded. This is easily achievable by presenting clear signs all around the building so anyone that enters the premises knows they are being monitored.

• Cameras are not allowed to be installed in a private area of a workplace where people expect complete privacy. For example, places like the toilets or the changing rooms should have complete privacy.

• If an individual has been recorded on one of the commercial premises CCTV cameras and requests a copy of the footage they have been recorded on, you must provide it within one month. 

Businesses can face fines for ignoring CCTV data protection laws. The ICO has the power to impose a monetary penalty on a data controller of up to £500,000.

Why is a CCTV policy so important?

A CCTV policy for a business using a CCTV system is crucial because without one they are not abiding by GDPR legislation which is the law. Also, any CCTV footage captured can potentially not be used as evidence or for any legal reasons if it is found that the company did not have a CCTV policy in place at the time the footage was captured on CCTV cameras.

Free CCTV policy and advice

As we have a wealth of experience in the CCTV commercial CCTV sector, we are happy to provide free CCTV policy advice and templates to clients that we work with to help make sure they are GDPR compliant. You can find out more information on laws regarding CCTV in our blog on CCTV laws for commercial premises.

Commercial CCTV advice

If you need help and advice on installing a commercial CCTV system at your premises call our team directly on 01492 547997 or send us an email to [email protected] and we will be happy to offer free commercial CCTV advice.