Surveillance, or CCTV, footage can be useful in many situations. It can show exactly how an incident happened (like a motor vehicle accident), and can be crucial evidence in legal matters (like a claim for compensation).
Luckily, if you have an accident or injure yourself in a public place, there is a good chance that it was captured on video.
However, tracking down, accessing and protecting surveillance footage can be difficult. Footage is often erased after a very short time (sometimes after 20 days or less), meaning action needs to be taken quickly.
Finding surveillance footage
There are multiple persons who might hold surveillance footage. These include:
- Private property owners;
- Business owners;
- Local council;
- State government.
To narrow down who might have footage, follow the steps below.
1. Look around
Go to the scene of the incident and have a look for any cameras. Cameras can sometimes be hard to spot, but will help you figure out whether footage was taken.
Tip: Look towards traffic lights, sign posts, and store windows.
2. Think about where you were
Different bodies hold footage of different areas. Here are some clues about who might have captured your incident:
On a main street?
Some local councils hold footage of community areas, including some roads and footpaths.
Some State government departments hold footage of busy roads and intersections.
Near a park?
Some local councils hold footage of community areas, including parks and other places of recreation.
Some State government departments hold footage of public areas such as national parks and forests.
Near a store or business?
Many businesses now have CCTV cameras set up for security reasons. These cameras can capture areas near the entry of the store, and even some distance down the street.
Near a public facility?
Some State government departments hold footage of public facilities; such as places of education, libraries, and public hospitals. That footage might extend to car parks, and the perimeters of those facilities.
3. Ask
Asking nearby residents, businesses, council and/or State government departments can quickly help you find out who does and doesn’t hold footage.
Requesting surveillance footage
The way you request surveillance footage depends on who holds the footage.
Businesses
For businesses, a simple letter asking for footage is sufficient. It is best to include a brief explanation of why you want the footage, and the time and place that you want the footage to capture. It may be that a business does have surveillance footage, but it doesn’t capture the incident scene or doesn’t capture all times. For an example letter, click the button below.
