Updated 3 November 2026
For an organisation using CCTV, a camera symbol and “CCTV in operation” headline are a starting point. People also need useful information about the monitoring and a way to ask questions.
Review the signs alongside the actual system and privacy information. Purchasing a notice does not establish that the recording itself is lawful.
State what is happening and why
ICO guidance says signs should make the use of CCTV clear and explain its purpose. Use the real purpose of the system rather than adding a generic claim about safety or crime prevention that does not describe its use.
If the system changes, check the information again. A sign for an earlier installation may no longer describe the area monitored or the processing taking place.
Identify responsibility and a contact route
The ICO’s detailed guidance calls for information about the organisation operating the system and who to contact. It notes that the operator need not be named where responsibility is obvious.
For shared premises, check this carefully: the building owner, occupier and monitoring contractor may be different organisations. Do not assume that the nearest company logo answers the question.
Provide usable basic contact details, such as a website, telephone number or email address. Check that the person receiving an enquiry knows where to direct it.
Make further information available
A short sign cannot carry every detail of an organisation’s privacy information. Connect the notice with the fuller explanation of how the personal information is used.
As an editorial check, follow the web address shown on the artwork. Does it reach the relevant information, or only a homepage where the reader has to search? Confirm the intended route before printing.
Check every approach
The ICO describes readable signs within and before entry to monitored premises. Review pedestrian entrances, vehicle approaches and any other access points actually in use.
Choose the layout and size for the intended reader. A close-range reception notice may not work at a vehicle entrance. Check visibility from the approach rather than only from beside the mounting point.
Keep signs and enquiries under review
Inspect the installed notices for obstruction, damage and outdated details. Compare them after changes to cameras, purposes, responsible organisations or contact arrangements.
The ICO’s small-organisation guidance also stresses that staff should know what to do when someone enquires about CCTV. Include that practical handover when updating the signs.
CCTV notices support transparency. Treat them as part of operating the system responsibly, with accurate information behind the message.
Sources: ICO: CCTV for organisations and ICO: data-protection principles and surveillance transparency.
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