Commercial surveillance systems typically overwrite footage on cycles ranging from several days to a few weeks depending on storage capacity and camera count. Preservation requires affirmative action before the cycle completes.
Retention periods vary widely by system.
Alternative Names:
Video Retention, Camera Footage Retention
Why it Matters?
The short cycle is what makes premises video preservation urgent, since footage is frequently gone before a claim is even reported. For defendants the practical control is a standing policy to preserve footage whenever an incident report is generated, which captures material before anyone knows whether a claim will follow. Preserving only the moments of the fall while allowing the preceding hours to overwrite has been treated as spoliation.
Frequently Confused with
Related terms
Frequently asked questions
How long is premises footage typically retained?
What scope should be preserved?
