Third Party Operating ANPR, Legal or not? Options

[Ilkie]

I have become aware of a limited not for profit company (the type grant funded and put together for a fixed period of time for regeneration purposes) arranging to install ANPR cameras to monitor a busy public road.

The server will be hosted by a private alarm monitoring company.

The installation is supported by the local Police SNT.

Now I have real concerns about the some of the aspects of this, but can't put my finger on the legal implications.

Anybody have any views?

Ilkie

[Ilkie]

Sorry Doc, may be in the wrong section.

Ilkie

[Doktor Jon]

Sorry Doc, may be in the wrong section.

Ilkie

Fine by me Ilkie (IMG:style_emoticons/default/yes.gif)

It will be interesting to see if anyone has any views on this.

I'm not sure if the DPA would apply unless an individuals personal data were involved at the post capture, plate matching stage, although the investigation of criminal activity wildcard might be brought into play (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif)

I'm beginning to wonder whether all the dedicated ANPR cameras currently being installed across the country, shouldn't have some form of notification provided, simply as a 'best practice' requirement if nothing else.

Looks like yet another grey area, that gets greyer by the minute (come to think of it, that sounds just like me (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) )

[Mick]

Ilk's .......... The first thing I am prompted to ask is "What's the purpose of this ANPR set up?"

[Ilkie]

Ilk's .......... The first thing I am prompted to ask is "What's the purpose of this ANPR set up?"

Apparently the story is that in the event of an incident occurring in the adjacent trading estates the ANPR database can be interrogated to see which vehicles where in the area (using the public road).

A bit weak really.

Ilkie

[Doktor Jon]

Apparently the story is that in the event of an incident occurring in the adjacent trading estates the ANPR database can be interrogated to see which vehicles where in the area (using the public road).

A bit weak really.

Ilkie

That's probably putting it mildly (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

The whole supposed benefit of ANPR is its use as a proactive tool for identifying suspect vehicles; if the intended application is simply for review in the event of an incident, then it simply isn't justified IMHO.

Without ANPR, they could just as easily play back the recordings and give the vehicle plate details to the police for possible further action, unless of course I'm missing something very obvious.

[Mick]

Only my view, but I would recommend that they register their operation with the ICO.

I would say that they are collecting / processing personal data, and so need to register. In doing so they will have to state the purpose of the set-up, and the ICO may not be convinced that the requirement is really necessary.

What they do next .......................... well who knows. The ICO has always said that they don't have any resources to act pro-actively. But after these HMRC INCIDENT(S) ! ................ things may change.

Don't hold your breath though.

[MichaelC]

Only my view, but I would recommend that they register their operation with the ICO.

Perhaps they should send in their notification by TNT (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink2.gif)

I thought I heard on the news the other day that the ICO was going to be given extra powers to enter premises and inspect 'data' handling and storage. If that was indeed the governments intention then I would imagine they are going to have to find some significant funding in order to employ enough inspectors.

Given the recent news about some individuals working with SIA licences who shouldn't have been, I don't have a very good feeling about this (IMG:style_emoticons/default/no.gif)