Updated 4 November 2026
Shops using overt CCTV to capture identifiable people need to explain the monitoring. Clear notices form part of that transparency, alongside the organisation’s wider privacy arrangements.
A small shop still needs to consider this. Buying a CCTV sticker is not, by itself, approval of the system or its use.
Confirm the retail monitoring arrangements
Have the person responsible for privacy confirm the purpose, camera coverage and organisation responsible. Check whether the arrangements include external areas, stockrooms or shared premises.
Do not copy a generic crime-prevention statement if it misdescribes the use. Sign wording should agree with the actual system.
Review customer arrivals
Check the approach from the street, car park and any other customer entrance. The ICO advises prominent information before people enter the camera’s field of vision, with reinforcement inside.
A notice at the till can be too late if cameras already cover the entrance. Have the actual coverage checked rather than guessing from camera positions.
Include staff and deliveries
Review rear doors, goods-in access and staff entrances separately. Customers and employees may follow different routes through the premises.
The ICO’s small-organisation guidance says signs should explain why CCTV is used and who to contact. It also says staff should know how to deal with enquiries.
Agree responsibility in shared premises
Where a landlord, shopping centre or another organisation operates a system, establish whose monitoring each notice describes. Check the appropriate operator and contact details.
Avoid sending an enquiry about one system to an organisation that cannot answer it. Keep the displayed information aligned with the relevant privacy notice.
Check the display during trading
Inspect glazing, open doors, promotional posters and seasonal displays for obstruction. Check visibility under the conditions in which the shop operates.
Describe the reading position, surface and exposure to the supplier. Confirm a suitable product and fixing rather than assuming one format suits every entrance.
Keep a practical review record
Record who checks signs when the frontage, cameras or operator details change. Remove inaccurate versions and replace damaged notices.
For detailed content checks, see our CCTV sign buying guide. Review the wider privacy arrangements as well: a visible sign cannot make an unjustified use of surveillance lawful.
Sources: ICO: CCTV for your organisation and ICO: surveillance transparency.
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