COMPUTER expert David Poultney has complained to a firm after claiming it filmed him with a James Bond-style camera which can see through clothing.

ThruVision on the Milton Park estate, near Didcot, manufactures the T5000 — a T-Ray camera using terahertz waves.

The hi-tech camera is made for the security industry and is designed to be used at airports or other locations to detect hidden explosives, drugs or weapons.

But Mr Poultney, 36, who works in information technology for a firm at Milton Park, said he complained to ThruVision after noticing camera equipment set up outside their office.

He said: “One day I noticed a small white box-shaped trailer, which looked like a suitcase on a tripod, at the back of the ThruVision offices.

“The trailer was in the car park but there were wires connected to the camera four metres away on a small public grass area.

“I was curious so I went to have a look at the camera. I thought it was switched on and directed towards the footpath, which is used by hundreds of people every day on their way to Milton stores.

“These cameras have the ability to see through clothing, so I believe the firm has been carrying out an unlawful searches.

“There are CCTV cameras all over Milton Park which are run by the business park, to which I have no objection because there are signs to warn people they are in use.

“However, I suspect ThruVision has been testing its cameras on unsuspecting members of the public.

“I contacted the firm to complain and to find out what images have been taken of me, but every time I phone up, the person I need to speak to is in a meeting.”

Mr Poultney of Faringdon, said he planned to contact the Information Commissioner’s Office for advice on how to get information from ThruVision.

He added: “I will make one last attempt to get a proper answer to my questions from ThruVision, but after that I will go straight to the ICO.

“It’s possible the camera was not switched on, but if so, what was it doing there?”

Mr Poultney said the equipment was there for about a fortnight before it was removed on Tuesday.

James Dipple, a spokesman for MEPC Milton Park Ltd, which runs Milton Park, said: “We had a complaint so we contacted ThruVision and the equipment was removed.”

Chris Beattie, a spokesman for ThruVision, declined to comment.

The Information Commissioner’s Office said staff would be happy to advise Mr Poultney and added: “Under the Data Protection Act you can make a subject access request, which entitles you to any information held on you by an organisation.

“If the firm has been capturing information on that person, and is holding the footage, then that person has a right to know what footage has been taken.”

affrench@oxfordmail.co.uk