A couple who installed a security camera outside their flat following police advice claim they are being threatened with legal action by their landlord unless they remove it.
A resident on Sutton’s Roundshaw estate in Wallington who was facing threats from an ex says they were advised by the Met Police to install a camera, which they say has had the knock-on effect of making other occupants of the block feel safer.
However, following what’s understood to have been a complaint by another neighbour, they say their housing association Metropolitan Thames Valley Housing (MTVH) has ordered its removal over fears it infringes the privacy of other people on the estate.
One of the couple, named only as Mr J to protect his identity, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) they’d experienced a gun threat and an unsettling package of mysterious items delivered to their front door.
After taking police advice they installed the camera above their front door in 2021, claiming a housing officer had spoken to them about it the following year and given the thumbs up provided no neighbours had an issue with it.
After initial concerns about it recording other nearby residents, Mr J says he adjusted the angle so it only recorded movement directly below it. Mr J said: “This camera isn’t really CCTV, it’s basically a glorified Ring doorbell. It was cheaper than a Ring doorbell and was needed quickly.”
He claims MTVH now wants it removed, following what he understands to have been a complaint from a neighbour that it is infringing their privacy. However Mr J maintains that the majority of neighbours are in favour of keeping it.
He said: “We told them that the majority of residents we spoke to preferred the camera to stay there as a deterrent for any criminal activities. At the other end of our road, there are frequent stabbings.
“There are 12 Ring doorbell cameras on our road, one normal CCTV camera, and two others on the back of buildings. How is ours any different to theirs?”
The couple have since installed more home security measures inside the property over fears that they could lose the camera. The couple say they’re having to go ‘full circle’ by getting a written statement from their neighbour to keep the camera in place four years after it was installed.
Mr J said: “We have had to fight this ourselves, but we don’t know what they are doing to other tenants. It is not like we abused the property, we maintain their assets. We regularly repair things. Their slogan is we believe everyone should have a decent home and the chance to live well. They are robbing us of that right now.”
A spokesperson from MTVH said: “Living with the fear of unwelcome visitors coming to your home can be terribly distressing, and we have every sympathy for the difficult situation that the residents find themselves in. It is important to us that all our residents to feel safe in their home, that their right to privacy is protected, and that our residents are treated by our colleagues with the utmost respect.
“While we are happy to consider requests for the installation of personal security cameras at residents’ homes, we do not believe it is appropriate when coverage extends to public or communal areas. This is because it means that footage of other residents going about their day-to-day life could be captured on a private device.
“We have asked the residents for a suitable date to visit their home to review the reach of this camera due to its positioning on the property. Our Safer Neighbourhoods Team are active and ready to work with residents to resolve any safety concerns.
“MTVH works closely with statutory bodies for the protection and security of the Roundshaw estate. If residents perceive an immediate threat, we always recommend contacting the police in the first instance. We are disappointed to hear that our residents feel we haven’t handled this case as well as we would want to.
“We have debriefed with all colleagues involved and while interpretations vary as to the specific words that were used it is clear that our residents feel let down and poorly treated. We want all our residents to feel supported and communicated to with compassion, and this is an aim we will continue to strive for.”
