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Guide
How long should you keep CCTV footage at home?
There is no fixed legal period for home CCTV footage in the UK. Keep recordings only as long as you need them, commonly between one and four weeks, and export any clip linked to an incident straight away so it is not overwritten.
What the guidance says
The ICO expects anyone controlling footage that includes people outside their own property to keep it no longer than necessary. For purely domestic footage within your own boundary there is no set number of days, but the same common-sense principle applies.
Choosing a retention period
Match the period to how quickly you notice problems. If you check the app daily, a week or two is enough. If you are away for long periods, 30 days gives time to review after you return. Longer retention means more data to protect and a bigger target if an account is compromised.
Saving evidence
If something happens, export the clip before it overwrites. Save the original file with its timestamp, note the date and time on your phone, and keep a copy in a second place. Avoid editing it. If the police ask, give them the original.
Where footage should live
A memory card keeps footage local but is lost if the camera is stolen. A recorder inside the house is safer. Cloud storage survives theft but costs monthly and puts footage in a third party's hands, so protect that account carefully. See our account security guide.
Common question
Do I have to delete old footage?
You should not keep it longer than you need. Set the system to overwrite automatically rather than relying on remembering.
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Photos and postcode to hello@maidstonesecurity.co.uk, call 07763 100 477, or open WhatsApp. Same-day reply in most cases.