Can police use thermal imaging without warrant in UK?
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No, police cannot use thermal imaging without a warrant in the UK. The use of thermal imaging is considered a form of surveillance and is subject to the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA) 2000. Under RIPA, the use of any surveillance device, including thermal imaging cameras, must be authorized by a warrant issued by a judge or magistrate.
Furthermore, the use of thermal imaging cameras may also be subject to the Human Rights Act 1998, which protects the right to privacy. The European Court of Human Rights has ruled that the use of thermal imaging cameras without proper safeguards constitutes a violation of privacy rights.
There have been cases in the past where the police have used thermal imaging without a warrant, but these have been challenged in court and deemed unlawful. In one such case in 2015, the High Court ruled that the use of thermal imaging cameras by the police to detect cannabis farms was unlawful as it violated the occupants' right to privacy. But, police can use a thermal camera phone in regular personal lives, such as:
Shooting funny photos
To find the hiding pets
To check the indoor temperature distribution
To check if home devices are prone to fail
To check whether the food is gone bad
Read also,
- Can a thermal camera see through walls
- Can a thermal camera see through clothes
- Can I use my phone as a thermal camera?
- Can thermal see through glass
- Infrared camera vs thermal camera
- Thermal imaging used in agriculture
- How does a thermal imaging camera work?
- What can thermal cameras detect?
- Can a thermal camera detect hidden cameras
- Can a thermal camera find water leaks
