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Can we film the entrance and exit of customers from a licensed premises? UK Pubs, Bars and Restaurants CCTV rules explained 2026

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Can we film the entrance and exit of customers from a licensed premises? UK Pubs, Bars and Restaurants CCTV rules explained 2026

Can we film the entrance and exit of customers from a licensed premises? UK Pubs, Bars and Restaurants CCTV rules explained 2026

Generally, yes, you can film the entry and exit points of your licensed premises, provided that the footage is strictly necessary and proportionate to the risk you are mitigating, such as preventing theft or identifying anti-social behaviour. The key legal framework governing this is the Data Protection Act 2017 (DPA) alongside UK GDPR. You must demonstrate a legitimate interest-for example, enhancing public safety or protecting assets-and ensure that the level of surveillance does not unduly invade the privacy of your patrons. You must only record areas where a genuine risk exists, meaning you cannot blanket-record public thoroughfares outside your property unless absolutely necessary. Crucially, clear and visible signage must inform every customer why the CCTV is in place, what data is being collected, and how long it will be stored. Remember, any recording of CCTV footage must be processed lawfully, fairly, and transparently, and you must maintain rigorous records of your Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA).

More questions about Pubs, Bars and Restaurants:

Can we film CCTV in the staff changing rooms or toilets?

Absolutely not. CCTV must never be installed in areas where individuals have a reasonable expectation of privacy, such as staff changing rooms, toilets, or dressing areas. Doing so would be a serious breach of UK law and GDPR, regardless of how minor the perceived security risk is. Focus your cameras only on common areas, circulation paths, and the main points of entry. If you are concerned about theft in these areas, you must implement physical controls, such as locks, rather than surveillance.

Does filming the street outside the pub require specific police permission?

While you do not require police permission just to record footage of a public street, you must be extremely mindful of where your camera view points are aimed. If the footage captures large areas of public highway or adjoining private properties, you must ensure your signage reflects that the recording is for general premises security, not for policing the public realm. Keep the scope narrow and focus only on the immediate approach to your main entrance to remain proportionate.

How long must we keep recorded CCTV footage of customers?

Under UK GDPR principles of data minimization, you cannot keep footage longer than is strictly necessary for the purpose it was collected. For general crime prevention in a commercial setting, a retention period of 30 days is common, but never keep it indefinitely. Once the footage is no longer required for investigating an incident or meeting a legitimate security purpose, you must securely delete it. Clear, written retention policies are mandatory for compliance.

The use of Facial Recognition Technology (FRT) is highly complex and generally considered highly intrusive. While not explicitly banned, its deployment requires an exceptionally high level of justification, a thorough DPIA, and often needs specific legal advice due to its potential for bias and misuse. Most law firms and the ICO advise caution; unless you are dealing with organized crime or have explicit police consultation, standard CCTV is the safer and more compliant approach.

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Gary Pearce | 07830 638 337 | https://github.com/gazpearce/gary-ai-assistant