Publishing shoplifter photo online

[babblemouth]

Ok, so someone shoplifts and it's caught on CCTV
Local newspapers often publish photos online of "suspected shoplifters'
Any problem with the retailer publishing photos from their CCTV footage online.

Tried a search online but no real definite answer.....

 

[Dan Izzard]

Interesting question. I've seen the corresponding websites of local newspapers publishing photos of shoplifters... May be worth checking with your local police just in case.

The term 'suspected shoplifters' is the concern, I guess you would have to be 100% certain that they were shoplifting otherwise it could potentially become a libel case.

 

[Diane@JFS]

Dan is correct. If you publicise something of this nature then it has to be factually accurate and correct otherwise proceedings for defamation may be brought against you. What I would ask is if you have the photos then have you passed these onto the police? Shoplifting is a criminal offence and should be dealt with by the police. If you have submitted the case to the police and they have not took it any further then this is probably because there is not enough evidence. If there is not enough evidence for the Police then it would generally follow that there is not enough evidence for you to prove the statement to be accurate and correct.

Joseph Frasier Solicitors

 

[pen2670]

Check the small print from when you registered as a data controller and the data proctection act. Unfortunately I believe that images from CCTV have to remain confidential, but worth checking.