We’ve been ordered to tug down the CCTV cameras we have had up for 12 YEARS over neighbours’ ‘privateness issues’… it is ridiculous
A couple were left feeling outraged after they were ordered to take down CCTV cameras that had been outside their flat for more than a decade.
Steve Cavener and wife Melanie Diamond-Cavener, from South Shields, had the cameras installed on their property 12 years ago following attempts to steal Steven’s work van.
But they have now been told to remove them after other residents living on Green’s Place filed complaints.
Steven says the situation is ‘ridiculous’ as he claims that both housing association, Home Group, and Northumbria Police have used the footage to help them investigate incidents in the area.
Home Group requested the CCTV be removed last year after customers expressed ‘concerns for their privacy’.
The company says that the U-shaped layout of Green’s Place means that it is impossible to fit cameras in a way that will respect the privacy of other customers.
Steve and Melanie claim that the cameras are mounted on a wall and that they only record Steve’s van.
Steve Cavener and wife Melanie Diamond-Cavener (pictured), from South Shields, had the cameras installed on their property 12 years ago following attempts to steal Steven’s work van
Steve and Melanie claim that the cameras are mounted on a wall and that they only record Steve’s van
The couple do not believe that they invade anyone’s privacy. Here one of the cameras can be seen
They do not believe that they invade anyone’s privacy.
After they initially received a letter from Home Group requesting they remove the cameras the couple applied for retrospective planning permission.
This was granted in August 2024, but Home Group says that this was a mistake.
In December 2024, Steve and Melanie were given one last chance to remove the cameras before court action would be taken against them for being in breach of their lease.
Steven told ChronicleLive: ‘It’s absolutely ridiculous.
‘It’s putting my business vehicle at risk because it’s already almost been stolen twice.
‘The cameras give security to the residents and they all feel safer because the cameras are there.’
Andrea Cunningham, a tenant of another flat in Green’s Place, removed CCTV cameras that she says she had up for four-and-a-half years after Home Group told her to take them down.
She said they were ‘not invading privacy or looking in anyone’s house.’
Home Group confirmed that they are also writing to residents to ask for the removal of Ring Doorbells.
The housing association is planning a formal consultation with residents of Green’s Place in the coming weeks to discuss its own installation of CCTV at the site.
Andy Hayes, a senior operations manager at Home Group, said: ‘We were contacted by customers at Greens Place informing us that CCTV cameras had been installed at the property and they had concerns regarding their privacy.
‘After looking into it, it was clear some customers had installed CCTV cameras without permission. We asked them to take them down.
‘Subsequently, our customers sought retrospective permission, which was mistakenly granted by a new member of staff.
‘We wrote to our customers explaining this was an error on our behalf, we apologised for that but informed them they needed to take down the cameras.
‘Generally, we do allow CCTV to be installed but they must conform to our alterations policy. Due to layout of the Greens Place properties, we had to refuse permission as it is not possible to install cameras in a way that will adequately respect the privacy of other customers.
‘Again, we are sorry for the initial error made, but we must respect the privacy of our customers.’
