A senior Cumbria police officer has issued reassurances that Keswick’s new CCTV camera system does not pose a threat to local residents’ privacy.
Concerns had been expressed by someone living near where the two cameras were installed last month in Main Street at a cost of nearly £20,000.
The fear was that the fixed cameras, which have powerful zooms and can rotate, could film what was happening inside people’s homes or hotels.
It prompted a response from T/Chief Superintendent Rob O’Connor, who agreed to the release of two pictures showing how upstairs windows at properties within range of the cameras had been automatically blanked out on screen using a high-tech feature.
He said: “The constabulary can reassure the public that there are stringent measures to ensure the use of CCTV cameras is appropriate and lawful.
“All our CCTV operators receive regular training in line with the surveillance commissioner’s code of conduct and legislation, particularly in respect of an individual’s right to a private life.
“To minimise potential breaches of privacy, our system sets up a mask on the windows or other private areas on properties, which cannot be removed by operators using the system.
“Following concerns raised by a local resident, the constabulary has provided a copy of a still that shows the privacy masks in operation.
“This allayed the individual’s concerns and has reassured them on their privacy.”