Can I Install CCTV At My Coffee Shop

In present time popularity of CCTV system is increasing with rapid speed in all kind of business and people are using this system to enhance the protection of their work place, business and other things. So, if you run a coffee shop and you are planning to install it in your coffee shop then there is nothing wrong in it and you can install the CCTV in your coffee shop. But when you do this, then you need to follow few basic rules as well so you do not violate the law and you do not face any of complication with it. To help you more in this regard, here I am sharing those rules and suggestions with you.

Do not install it outside:
You are allowed to install the CCTV in your coffee shop, but you are not allowed to install it outside your coffee shop pointing at other businesses. Sometime people make this mistake and they install a CCTV camera outside their coffee shop pointing at the main door of competitor. If you will do this then that will be a violation of law and you may need to face complications with it. Though if you want to capture those people that are entering into your coffee shop, then you can add there camera there. So, it strongly recommended that you follow this rule and you install it inside your shop only.

Let others know about it:
Installing of CCTV system in a covert mode is an offensive crime and if you will do that in your coffee shop, then that will be a criminal activity from your side. When you install the CCTV in your coffee shop, and then make sure it is visible to all of your customers and they can know the cameras in a proper manner. In addition to this, it is also essential that you let your customers know about the installation of CCTV camera in your coffee shop. For this information you can simply paste few stickers at visible place stating this place is under CCTV surveillance. Also, if possible use stickers in at least two languages including native and English both. This will not leave a chance of any excuse to your customers about language barriers.

Do not install near private places:
This is one of the most important things that you have to keep in your mind while installation CCTV system in your coffee shop. In your coffee shop you may have a basin, wash room or toilet and these places are considered as private places. Technically you do not have any reason to install a CCTV camera at these places because only those people will use the washroom or basin that come to your coffee shop from main door. If you will install the camera at these places then you will violate the late and you might face serious complications as well because of that mistake.

Keep the recording private:
Although you can install the CCTV system in your coffee shop, but you need to take the responsibility of recorded data as well. Here, you need to understand that if recording of your CCTV system goes to a wrong hand and breach the privacy of some person then it will be your mistake and you will need to take the responsibility of that situation. So, when you plan to install it in your coffee shop, then think about privacy as well and share the data only with those people that are legally allowed to see that data.

Do not record the voice:
Ideally you should not record the voice of your customers because that will reduce the privacy of your customer and that is not going to be a good thing for them. You need to understand that in a coffee shop lovers may talk about their love, business people talk about their business and or two friends may talk about their personal life and their complications. If you will record the voice then these all private conversation may not remain private and that will be a clear case of privacy violation. Though if you want to record the voice of your workers and voice at your cash counter, then you can do that as long as you are not recording customer’s private conversation with your CCTV system.

Delete the recordings timely:
Just keeping your coffee shop under CCTV surveillance is not enough, but you need to delete the recording also on a regular interval. If you will not do this then you will not be able to get better result with your CCTV system. Eventually it will fill your hard disk and you will not be able to record more with it. Also, legally you can keep the recording of CCTV system only until you need it and after that you will need to delete or destroy the recording to keep the privacy of your customer. So, you need to make a policy for that suggested by experts or government agencies and that you should delete the recording after that time.

Do not invade the privacy: Although you can record the video and images of any person that enter into your coffee shop, but it doesn’t means you can invade into their privacy. When you configure the CCTV camera in your coffee shop, then make sure you capture the images of visitors but do not focus more on those personnel activity that they are doing there in the shop. Also, try not to zoom on your customers activities with camera unless you see any kind of complication or trouble that need to be recorded.

In addition to you also need to allow your customers to see their recording. However, your visitors can see the recording of that time only when they were in your coffee shop and if they ask for recording of other time then should respond them accordingly. So, if you are planning to install CCTV in your coffee shop, you can do that without any problem as long as your follow the suggestions that I shared above with you.