Home security camera seeing neighbour's property

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robfish

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#239984 14-Aug-2018 09:31

Are there laws in New Zealand relating to home security camera viewing and/or recording activity on neighbours' property/frontage?

My friend his video proof that a neighbour was responsible for an illegal act and wonders if he is safe to take it to the police.

Rob

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#2073106 14-Aug-2018 09:37

Why should police be concerned about an "unneighbourly" act? They're not there to sort out petty disputes. Was it actually a criminal act?

It would be an unneighbourly act (IMO) to deliberately position a security camera to surveill a neighbour.

robfish

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#2073112 14-Aug-2018 09:40

OK I will change my terminology to an "illegal act".

The camera does not deliberately target the neighbouring property but does view some of if on the peripheral.

Rob

Talkiet

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#2073116 14-Aug-2018 09:47

This is probably the perfect thread to once again remind people that GZ users typically aren't lawyers, and any that are will either:

a) Not help for free

b) Not give advice based on such a thin description

In short, there's no chance you're going to get a helpful and accurate answer to this question here sorry.

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Please note all comments are from my own brain and don't necessarily represent the position or opinions of my employer, previous employers, colleagues, friends or pets.

stinger

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#2073121 14-Aug-2018 09:52

robfish:

OK I will change my terminology to an "illegal act".

The camera does not deliberately target the neighbouring property but does view some of if on the peripheral.

IANAL. It would depend on what the illegal act was. If you saw them burying a body, then I'd definitely take it to the police. If you saw them torrenting the latest episode of Play School, then not.

wellygary

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#2073125 14-Aug-2018 09:59

stinger:

robfish:

OK I will change my terminology to an "illegal act".

The camera does not deliberately target the neighbouring property but does view some of if on the peripheral.

IANAL. It would depend on what the illegal act was. If you saw them burying a body, then I'd definitely take it to the police. If you saw them torrenting the latest episode of Play School, then not.

This,

its pretty much the same as wandering past a driveway and seeing something going on in the garage,

how "illegal" was it? if you saw it happening on the street would you call 111 is probably a good test

cruxis

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#2073128 14-Aug-2018 10:03

Post the footage up

freitasm

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Geekzone

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#2073130 14-Aug-2018 10:06

cruxis:

Post the footage up

Then let it appear on Stuff and the rage of the Internet will take care of the rest...

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Inphinity

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#2073133 14-Aug-2018 10:11

freitasm:

cruxis:

Post the footage up

Then let it appear on Stuff and the rage of the Internet will take care of the rest...

I can't help but laugh, the rubbish that shows up on 'media' these days is depressingly pointless.

To be helpful to the thread, here is hte privacy commissioners take on cameras viewing a neighbours property:

https://www.privacy.org.nz/further-resources/knowledge-base/view/43?t=42940_56445

robfish

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#2073135 14-Aug-2018 10:12

In short, there's no chance you're going to get a helpful and accurate answer to this question here sorry.

Thanks, I realise that now. None of the responses answer my question about the legality of CCTV viewing another property.

OOPS!

The answer above was helpful. Thanks.

Rob

Fred99

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#2073136 14-Aug-2018 10:12

cruxis:

Post the footage up

...or even a short description of what the alleged criminal act was.

freitasm

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#2073137 14-Aug-2018 10:13

@robfish:

In short, there's no chance you're going to get a helpful and accurate answer to this question here sorry.

Thanks, I realise that now. None of the responses answer my question about the legality of CCTV viewing another property.

I think you replied this just while the reply immediately before was posted. There's a good link to the Privacy Commission on that.

robfish

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#2073139 14-Aug-2018 10:15

As above, my question is not about the legality of the act it is about the legality of the CCTV camera.

Perhaps this thread should be closed.

Rob

rphenix

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#2073140 14-Aug-2018 10:21

Well I've found this.

"No, it is not okay to film a neighbour's property with a security camera. While the actions of a neighbour acting in their personal capacity are not covered by the Privacy Act, it is certainly not polite or neighbourly to film across a fence."

Many cameras let you mask out certain areas, or obviously you can adjust the angle of the camera so its hopefully not viewing the neighbour's property.

t0ny

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#2073142 14-Aug-2018 10:23

IMO, CCTV cameras are legal. Where it is facing is probably illegal. Every house in my street has cameras but no one seems to care

Image already added

tripper1000

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#2073143 14-Aug-2018 10:24

The essence of the question is what, if anything, is allowed to be filmed on CCTV other than your own property. It's a straight forward question and doesn't take a $350 p/h lawyer to answer it. Magnitude of the act is irrelevant if evidence is inadmissible. Maybe you need to call the cops and ask. They're pretty straight up and aren't going to charge people for minor breaches of CCTV rules.

Watching thread with interest as I'm thinking about recording the cars parked on the public road in front of my house due to repeated break-ins.

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