Without having any in-depth knowledge of this, how can covert surveillance be operated under DPA.
Covert surveillance implies surveillance of individuals - or with a view to identifying individuals.
I thought all such usages had to be registered under the Data Protection Act.
I have come across the British Security Association Industry Assn "DATA PROTECTION ACT 1998 CCTV CODE OF PRACTICE" http://www.bsia.co.uk/pdfs/dpa_cctv.pdf
It exclueds the following:
"a. "Targeted and intrusive surveillance activities."
b. "Use of surveillance techniques by employers to monitor their employees' compliance with their contracts of employment."
c. "Security equipment installed in home by individuals for home security purposes."
d "Use of cameras and similar equipment by the broadcast media for the purposes of journalism."
http://www.crimereduction.gov.uk/cctv7.htm says that:
"CCTV must be overt and signed in order to allow the public to be aware of its use. Also to draw their attention to the fact that they are entering a zone which is covered by surveillance equipment and that CCTV may capture their image. It is only in circumstances which are in accordance with Section 29 DPA 98 (see above) that intrusive hidden cameras may be used. Discreet cameras are permitted as long as the area is signed to that effect."
This website points out that:
"As far as the DPA is concerned, the only CCTV systems that fall within the jurisdiction of the act are those that are dealing with surveillance in 'areas where the public have largely free and unrestricted access.'"
Nick Landau
----- Original Message -----
From: "datap" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, March 20, 2006 12:14 PM
Subject: [data-protection] Covert surveillance - CCTV
> Dear all,
>
> I was wondering if anyone had a policy on the above which they would be
> willing to share?
>
> I am particularly interested in how this is operated by non-public
> authorities.
>
> Replies on or off list are fine.
>
> Many thanks,
>
> Tanya Holden
> Information Governance Manager
> Metropolitan Housing Trust
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and
> intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom
> they are addressed.
> If you have received this email in error please notify the
> originator of the message. This footer also confirms that this
> email message has been scanned for the presence of computer viruses.
>
> Any views expressed in this message are those of the individual
> sender, except where the sender specifies and with authority,
> states them to be the views of Metropolitan Housing Trust Ltd.
>
> Metropolitan Housing Trust Limited is Charitable, registered under the
> Industrial and Provident Societies Act 1965 No. 16337R.
>
> Metropolitan Home ownership is Charitable, registered under the
> Industrial and Provident Societies Act 1965 No. 16337R.
>
> Stepforward is Charitable, registered under the Industrial and Provident
> Societies Act 1965 No. 16337R.
>
> MHT Social Investment Foundation is Charitable, registered under the
> Industrial and Provident Societies Act 1965 No. 28795R.
>
> Refugee Housing Association Limited is Charitable, registered under the
> Industrial and Provident Societies Act 1965 No. 20735R.
>
> Rushcliffe Homes Limited is registered with the Charity
> Commission: No. 1095063.
>
> Scanning of this message and addition of this footer is performed
> by SurfControl E-mail Filter software in conjunction with
> virus detection software.
>
>
>
>
> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>
>
>
> All archives of messages are stored permanently and are
>
>
>
> available to the world wide web community at large at
>
>
>
> http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/data-protection.html
>
>
>
> If you wish to leave this list please send the command
>
>
>
> leave data-protection to [log in to unmask]
>
>
>
> All user commands can be found at : -
>
>
>
> http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/help/commandref.htm
>
>
>
> Any queries about sending or receiving message please send to the list owner
>
>
>
> [log in to unmask]
>
>
>
> (all commands go to [log in to unmask] not the list please)
>
>
>
> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
All archives of messages are stored permanently and are
available to the world wide web community at large at
http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/data-protection.html
If you wish to leave this list please send the command
leave data-protection to [log in to unmask]
All user commands can be found at : -
http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/help/commandref.htm
Any queries about sending or receiving message please send to the list owner
[log in to unmask]
(all commands go to [log in to unmask] not the list please)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
