CCTV Explained in Plain English
Your CCTV camera
must be fit for purpose and you need to be very precise when instructing
your CCTV consultant. Lets look at Car Parks for example; there may
be various elements that need to be observed; the entrance/exit and
entire area, any individual car and a close up on the drivers' face
and/or the registration number.
Another example
is a retail counter; we need to monitor the point of sale for both security
and health & safety. Estimating an individual's height is important
so whilst distance is essential we need to get a very close view of
money being exchanged … and without compromising reproduction quality
for evidence.
Some of these
cameras will clearly need to be visible and act as a deterrent. We also
might want high visibility CCTV in domes so that nobody can see which
way they are pointing and of course we might want to catch someone in
the act so we choose covert CCTV.
We are not
always able to observe an event in real time and need make recordings
for later viewing and of course for evidence when required.
Locating CCTV
cameras isn't the only aspect, the monitors are equally important. We'll
look at the different types further down because focussing on the ergonomics
of a security control room or guards station is important right now.
How many monitors
can one individual view effectively at any given time for say, one hour?.
Is it better to have all four events working from one monitor? Is there
an optimum distance from the location of monitors to the CCTV operators'
eyes? - How is this calculated? . How long do we need to keep recordings
and in what format?
Video recordings
have been effective in helping employers and police identify criminals
whilst conducting crimes including; armed robbery, burglary, car park
robbery, credit card fraud, colleague harassment, computer abuse, customer
returns fraud, employee theft, shoplifting, vandalism, and more. Hidden
cameras are often a short-term measure for targeted surveillance operations
and specialist advice from UK CCTV Experts should be sought and an understanding
of the Data Protection Act is essential.
When we don't
understand something, we are vulnerable and the CCTV industry is no
exception, especially when buying after the event and seriously effected
by a previous incident.
Not all CCTV Consultants are vultures and rogues but getting an understanding
of elements such as colour and monochrome video cameras, time lapse
VCR's, switchers and multiplexes, remote movement control, telephone
video transmission systems ... and more - Look no further, here is a
simple guide to CCTV. It's not intended to be a comprehensive buyers
guide but will certainly help along the way.
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