Overt vs Covert CCTV – How To Use Surveillance in the Workplace

CCTV is a practical and cost effective way to deter intruders or thieves from your business premises, and can also be a great way to encourage productivity in the workplace. At BDi Advance, we offer a range of CCTV systems for businesses throughout Cambridge and East Anglia, and are experts at installing both covert and overt security cameras to help you keep an eye on your premises 24/7.

What is the difference between overt and covert surveillance?

At BDi Advance, we install many types of CCTV cameras for businesses, including those which are clearly visible, and CCTV systems which are more discreet. Our professional team know that security solutions are rarely one-size-fits-all, and each premises may require a different type of CCTV solution to comprehensively fit its individual needs.

If your business premises is subject to break-ins, your building would be more suited to an overt camera system where the cameras are clearly visible to passers-by. This acts as a deterrent and is more likely to make the intruder think twice before breaking in or vandalising your property. A particularly effective example of this would be a motion-sensor camera which moves to face the direction of the movement trigger. This would show the intruder that their movements are clearly being recorded, which should encourage them to vacate the premises.

Covert CCTV cameras are more often installed to monitor your workforce as opposed to intruders. Although a tiny camera hidden in a pencil sharpener may spring to mind, our installers have fitted a variety of more practical discreet camera systems, ranging from smaller units built into offices, hallway cameras, and cameras built into door entry systems. The purpose of these types of cameras is not necessarily to be concealed, but to monitor more discreetly in public areas.

Is covert CCTV legal?

The UK General Data Protection Regulation and Data Protection Act 2018 include principles relevant to the use of CCTV in the workplace, stating that employers must have a lawful ground to process personal data, including CCTV footage. The data must only be collected for specified, explicit and legitimate purposes, and processed securely to protect against unauthorised access, accidental loss, destruction, or damage.

Supplementary guidance for workplace CCTV comes from the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO): its guidance on Employment practices and data protection: monitoring workers and its Video surveillance (including guidance for organisations using CCTV) guidance. These replace the ICO’s older Employment Practices Code and CCTV code of practice. The guidance is not legally binding in itself, but it explains how the ICO expects organisations to comply with data protection law and could be considered in the event of unlawful surveillance taking place.

To summarise the ICO’s monitoring workers guidance, employers must inform workers if monitoring is to take place, either in an employee handbook, using signage or other methods. Data obtained through this monitoring should be kept secure, and most importantly, covert monitoring should only be used in exceptional circumstances, such as where it is necessary to prevent or detect suspected criminal activity or gross misconduct.

In this case, monitoring in the workplace is legal, but the ICO’s guidance is clear that covert audio or video monitoring should not be used in areas where workers would reasonably expect to be private, such as toilets or changing rooms.

When to use CCTV in the workplace

Video monitoring at your business premises is a practical and effective way to deter intruders and trespassers, but the use of covert CCTV in the workplace can easily break privacy laws and is rarely justified. At BDi Advance, we suggest that when monitoring your workforce using CCTV, adequate notices or other means to inform workers, visitors and customers are displayed, and those affected are clearly notified as to where and why monitoring is being carried out.

For further information regarding CCTV monitoring in the workplace, visit the below references from ICO, or consult your legal team. Our experienced engineers are happy to provide guidance regarding the most suitable and compliant video monitoring systems for your business premises – to get in touch, complete our contact form or give us a call on 01223 566 599.

References

https://ico.org.uk/for-organisations/uk-gdpr-guidance-and-resources/employment/monitoring-workers/

https://ico.org.uk/for-organisations/uk-gdpr-guidance-and-resources/cctv-and-video-surveillance/guidance-on-video-surveillance-including-cctv/

BDi Advance provides CCTV and security systems to businesses across Cambridgeshire and East Anglia, with local engineers based in Huntingdon. To arrange a free site survey or to get a quote, complete our contact form today.