If you are an employer, you may be tempted by the idea of installing CCTV on your premises, both as a security measure and as a way to boost productivity around the site.

As an employee, you could hate this idea as you think it is an invasion of your privacy, or you could love it because it gives you peace of mind that you are safe and secure whilst at work, allowing you to relax and become less stress.

Business CCTV really is different strokes for different folks with just as many loving the idea as hating it and as a business owner you need to decide what the reaction will be from your workforce and where exactly you want your shiny new cameras to be installed.

The other thing that you need to consider is if your CCTV plan is legal. Having some CCTV in the workplace is perfectly legal and it is already a key part of security systems on business premises across the globe.

However, the legal and moral considerations about surveillance in the workplace don’t stop there and you do need to be careful that you are avoiding breaching any privacy laws or the legal consequences could cost you far more than any criminal activity that your CCTV managed to prevent.

What laws are there about business CCTV?

There is no specific piece of legislation in the UK that covers the use of CCTV on commercial premises.

However, both the Data Protection Act 1998 and the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 are relevant, determining where CCTV can legally be used and how the images recorded must be handled.

You will also need to register your company with the Information Commissioner’s Office if you intend to use CCTV in the workplace and tell all of your staff where and when they are being recorded.

Signs should be installed on the perimeter of the premises that clearly tells visitors and passers by that they may be under observation when they enter the property. As it happens these signs are actually a great security measure in their own right as they put off wrongdoers considering making you their latest target.

What about employee privacy?

Whilst you can record employees whilst they are at work, in most situations, the Human Rights Act 1998, does regulate how CCTV cameras can be used in any setting, including a work environment.

You cannot record in bathrooms or changing rooms, for example.

Should I install Commercial CCTV?

You can install CCTV in a business building, but should you? That is entirely up to you. The benefits of installation in terms of productivity, safety, and security are clear for all to see, but you know your workers better than anyone and will understand how they will react if you suddenly introduced a CCTV system on site.

In general, CCTV is a fantastic idea for the vast majority of businesses in the UK, adding a layer of security and safety that is hard to match.