cctv camera footage storage time?

carlb · 18-02-2006, 20:53

do large companies or any for that matter have a limit legally or otherwise on how long they keep cctv footage?
i noticed today when i went to my bank that they have a total of 9 cameras and it's only a small branch, obviously a bank has to keep footage for security reason but how long do the keep this who has access to this footage?

Halcyon · 18-02-2006, 21:07

Planning a bank robbery ?

There must be a mximum amount of time as they'd neeed tonnes of storage otherwise. I'd say a week.....maximum a month.

The cameras may be rotating so not all footage will be taped constantly.
I guess it depends on the set up.

carlb · 18-02-2006, 21:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by Halcyon

Planning a bank robbery ?

damm u've worked it out

Quote:

Originally Posted by Halcyon

There must be a maximum amount of time as they'd neeed tonnes of storage otherwise. I'd say a week.....maximum a month.

that's what i thought unless that archive it somehow? i presumed the would be using some sort of remote system to record it now that begs the question is this the bank or companies that do this or do they contract this stuff out.
now that cctv coverage is getting to Orwellian levels is there any laws that cover this stuff?

spiderplant · 18-02-2006, 21:56

It seems that if it is only used for crime prevention/detection, there are no restrictions. 31 days is recommended:
http://www.crimereduction.gov.uk/digitalcctvleaflet.pdf

See also http://www.ico.gov.uk/documentUploads/cctvcop1.pdf

Halcyon · 18-02-2006, 22:45

I think the police, MI5, MI6, are probably allowed access to footage.
eg. If some terrorists were recorded in an area of town and a bank camera was positioned near by. They would ask to see if the camera's caught anything.

dilligaf1701 · 18-02-2006, 22:49

I've done various sites with security cameras and they've all had different amounts of storage time.

Literally from hours to a week's worth.

Also it can depend on the age of the equipment behind the camera. Most of the newer setups that i've had to deal with now have digital storage (hdd's etc) and they have more storage time.

marky · 18-02-2006, 22:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by dilligaf1701

I've done various sites with security cameras and they've all had different amounts of storage time.

Literally from hours to a week's worth.

Also it can depend on the age of the equipment behind the camera. Most of the newer setups that i've had to deal with now have digital storage (hdd's etc) and they have more storage time.

Sounds rather dodgy that Dilli, is it a birthday confession

dilligaf1701 · 18-02-2006, 23:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by marky

Quote:

Originally Posted by dilligaf1701

I've done various sites with security cameras and they've all had different amounts of storage time.

Literally from hours to a week's worth.

Also it can depend on the age of the equipment behind the camera. Most of the newer setups that i've had to deal with now have digital storage (hdd's etc) and they have more storage time.

Sounds rather dodgy that Dilli, is it a birthday confession

I guess mu shameful secret is out

**Stuart** · 18-02-2006, 23:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by carlb

do large companies or any for that matter have a limit legally or otherwise on how long they keep cctv footage?
i noticed today when i went to my bank that they have a total of 9 cameras and it's only a small branch, obviously a bank has to keep footage for security reason but how long do the keep this who has access to this footage?

They probably have CCTV system similar to the one we have at work, so it probably records on one tape, and makes that one tape last anywhere from three to 48 hours.

Basically, it takes one frame from a camera, then the next frame from the next camera and so on. How many times it does this in an hour depends on whether it's set to 24, 48 or 36 hours. The system isn't quite that simple, as if something is happening on a particular camera, it will adjust itself so that camera gets longer on the tape. Trust me on this. When we had to look at the footage, we only had one working VCR for the CCTV system, which was obviously being used to record. I had to use a conventional VCR to capture the relevant video footage, then sort it manually so it was obvious which camera each frame came from.

CCTV footage is (I believe) covered by the Data Protection Act, but I don't know if that imposes any limits on storage.

Halcyon · 18-02-2006, 23:23

It's strange, but whenever I go somewhere, I always look at the camera's.
They must think I am really dodgy or something lol.
In fact I'm just interested in technology.

**Graham M** · 19-02-2006, 00:23

At work we have a 31 tape rotation (one for each day of the month obviously)