BSIA advises on privacy issues

The British Security Industry Association has provided a submission to a House of Lords Select Committee on the impact of CCTV and privacy issues.

Pauline Norstrom, BSIA CCTV Section Chairman, comments: “There has been much public debate in recent months about CCTV’s role in what is termed a ‘surveillance society’. The security industry must be at the forefront of not only professing CCTV’s many benefits such as crime prevention and detection, but also in reassuring the public as to the many measures in place to protect their privacy.”

“Privacy is protected through legislation such as the Data Protection and Human Rights Acts, industry guidelines and codes of practice, and by continued legislative consultation as CCTV technologies become more sophisticated. As an industry we must be prepared not only to develop new technologies, but also to consider the effects that such technologies may have on the privacy of the public and to review current legislation and guidelines accordingly.”

The House of Lords Select Committee for the Constitution is examining the impact of surveillance and data collection upon the privacy of citizens and their relationship with the state. The BSIA submitted written evidence to the committee, which is currently being considered.

To view the BSIA submission, click here. For more information on the work of the House of Lords Select Committee, click here.

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