Home Office issues retailers guide to CCTV

The Home Office has compiled a guide for retailers on the

use of CCTV in small shops.

Launched at the Association of Convenience Stores' Crime Prevention Forum, the guide offers retailers guidance and information on how to get the most out of their CCTV systems.

It also provides a flavour of the advice to be made available alongside the Government’s new surveillance camera code of practice when it comes into force.

ACS chief executive James Lowman said: "CCTV is crucial to many retailers’ and this guide will help them optimism its value, providing staff and customers with piece of mind and deterring criminals. We also welcome the Government’s consultation on the CCTV Code of Practice and we urge retailers to be mindful of the provision in the Code when they install CCTV within their business."

Alastair Thomas from the Home Office Police Transparency Unit launched the new guide at the forum and explained the Government’s work on regulating CCTV and other surveillance camera systems through a code of practice being prepared under the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012.