Nosey neighbours and even those who accidentally record what’s going on across the garden wall with their close circuit cameras (CCTV) may have their viewing options curtailed by new legal measures.
Home and apartment building owners could be forced to register their CCTV equipment at the Interior Ministry, if councillors have their way, to ensure they do not cause friction with families living close by.
“The issue we want to tackle is invasion of privacy,” said Southern Municipal Council chairman Bader Al Tamimi. “Some home-owners just place multiple outdoor cameras covering each and every angle instead of taking a common sense approach to security.
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“There is a need to have outdoor surveillance cameras registered with the Interior Ministry to determine the most suitable place for installation so they do not infringe on the rights of their neighbours.”
The move follows several incidents in which residents have complained to the authority claiming that their privacy had been invaded.
The proposal by Mr Al Tamimi would see owners presenting photographs of the exterior of their building to the police from which the most suitable locations for the surveillance cameras could be suggested.
People would still be free to place them inside of their homes without seeking permission.
The proposal will now be submitted for review to the Cabinet with a reply referred to newly-elected councillors later this year.
Technicalities such as whether the cameras should be fixed or rotating, as well as their zoom capabilities, would be determined by the relevant authorities.
Mr Al Tamimi said registering surveillance cameras could also be beneficial to the police investigating crimes in a specific area as they would be aware of all camera locations.
“Police will be able to act without losing time,” he added. “Surveillance cameras have helped resolve many cases in the past and we believe they are vital in the crime detection and evidence process.”
Regulation would also avoid potential problems in the future. “It is not like we have a major issue of Peeping Toms but having approvals for the erection of equipment would ensure that no such accusations surface again,” he said, “and people would be reassured that the locations would not interfere with their lives.”
A proposal also by Mr Al Tamimi was approved unanimously in February to make it mandatory to install surveillance cameras in industrial areas in a bid to reduce crimes at worksites, labour accommodations and surrounding facilities.
Under that proposal, they want CCTV cameras installed and linked remotely to the Interior Ministry following a spike in illegal activities.
MPs in March have also approved a proposal to position surveillance cameras in public parks, gardens and walkways across Bahrain in a bid to tackle a wave of vandalism and theft of public property.
Bahrain obliged all institutions and businesses to install surveillance cameras in 2015.
All roads and highways are currently equipped with security cameras linked with the Interior Ministry.
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