Croydon Council installs CCTV in homes

Story link: Croydon Council installs CCTV in homes by Jan Harris

Croydon Council is trialing a controversial scheme to install CCTV cameras in people’s home in order to reduce anti-social behaviour on the streets.

The £1,000 CCTV systems have been installed in two houses so far, but if the trial is successful the council hopes to roll it out further.

The cameras are connected to a laptop computer and can be monitored online by both the council and the police.

Although the cameras monitor the street, there are no notices indicating that they are in operation, and Privacy International has raised concern that this could be a breach of human rights.

However the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act of 2000 does allow general covert surveillance with hidden cameras, for the prevention or detection of crime by unspecified individuals.

Croydon already has one of the most advanced CCTV networks in London, and it seems that it could soon be expanded even further.

While the move is welcomed by some residents who have been subjected to anti-social behaviour, it will also fuel concern over the continuing growth of the surveillance society.