Electronic surveillance

Security Vs. Privacy – Standards for Surveillance Cameras in Public Places

Surveillance cameras guidelines were issued in the UK in order to assure that the public is protected, but not spied on. Surveillance Camera Commissioner Tony Porter recently launched a consultation on a draft national surveillance camera strategy for England and Wales.

This strategy aims to provide direction and leadership in the surveillance camera community to enable system operators to understand best practice and their legal obligations (such as those contained within the Data Protection Act and the Private Security Industry Act), according to the UK governmet website. It also aims to enable the surveillance camera community to demonstrate compliance with the principles of the surveillance camera code of practice and other guidance.

Porter explained to the register.co.uk what “surveillance by consent” meant: “For me, it means that this public space surveillance – which doesn’t sit under a specific legislative framework – is trusted by the public to be there for its needs,” Porter said. It means that the community knows that “surveillance is there to protect them, and not spy on them.”