Usage Of CCTV Installations

Posted on January 23, 2012 by admin

Closed circuit television (CCTV) is widely used for many reasons.  Public services use CCTV Installations for monitoring crowds in the high street, at airports and shopping malls. Speed cameras have been around for many years, and the output from the CCTV Installation is used to take a photo of car number plate if the car is exceeding the speed limit. This is for the purposes of identifying the owner of the car and sending out a traffic notice. Public services are authorised to use these CCTV Surveillance Systems in the interests of public safety but can raise concerns about privacy.

The Information Commissioner’s Office provides information about who can use a CCTV Surveillance System and how it should be deployed.  The Data Protection Act (DAP) 1998  and the Code of Practice as the main documents governing the use of CCTV Installations. There is special guidance available for pub owners who use CCTV.  The whole reason for using a CCTV Installation will need to be considered in any situation, whether it is an organisation wishing to oversee a factory or an individual using a CCTV Surveillance System to take photos of the wildlife in the garden.

Organisations should comply with the DPA and the Code of Practice for usage of CCTV Surveillance Systems if they are not to fall foul of the law.  The DPA legislation is based round whether the output captured contains images of identifiable individuals and this should be considered carefully before deploying a CCTV Installation. Organisations should register their CCTV Installation with the Information Commissioner’s Office as a Data Controller as a very minimum to comply with the Code of Practice. CCTV Installation Companies can help you complete the forms as part of their service.  Where organisations use CCTV Surveillance Systems, they should be aware that individuals can request copies of the footage.  A charge of £10 can be made for this.

CCTV Installations deployed by individuals are exempt from the DPA for domestic use.  A camera overlooking the street or other public areas near their home are not subject to the DPA if the images are for their personal use.  In all cases, people should be aware that their actions are being monitored on a CCTV Surveillance System.  Clear signs in prominent places are essential, especially if the camera itself is not visible.  Videos captured with a mobile phone and put on You Tube are also exempt from the DPA.

There has been a phenomenal growth in the usage of CCTV Surveillance Systems in both the work place and domestic situations, mainly due to the rising crime rate.  Images output from a CCTV Installation can be used in court as evidence of a crime and many convictions have been made.  The British public are now accustomed to CCTV Installations being used to monitor public places, but whether you are an individual or an organisation, you should ensure that you adhere to the rules of the DPA, if applicable, as well as being aware of the Code of Practice.  CCTV should always be used responsibly.

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Maintaining your CCTV System

Posted on January 16, 2012 by admin

Having made an investment in your CCTV Surveillance System, you will want to ensure that it continues to run smoothly and give you the output you need.  A reputable CCTV Installation Company will provide you with an after sales CCTV Maintenance Contract and back up service in case you encounter any post installation difficulties and ongoing checks.  Maintaining your CCTV is very important.  Cameras may become unfocussed and may need to be realigned and if cabling and other components develop faults it may be necessary to replace them.  All components should, in any case, have a guarantee for at least one year.  A reputable CCTV Installation Company should only employ qualified engineers who are professional and understand not only how to install a CCTV Surveillance System but also to be able to trouble shoot any problems with the components.  It the problem is with the electronics of an older system, the CCTV Installation Company should be able to recommend a specialist  electronics engineer if one is not available in house.

If your CCTV System is installed in business premises, you may wish to have a regular maintenance schedule written into the contract providing you with a serviced CCTV Installation which will give you peace of mind.  The CCTV Maintenance Contract should include an agreed number of hours call out time per year as part of the contract so that you are not charged every time you have to call them out.  It is useful to have a maintenance schedule with agreed dates for the engineer to check things over, as this time can be used to make agree amendments or enhancements to the CCTV Surveillance System.  The engineer will then be able to advise on what equipment you need and provide you with a quotation.  If your business moves premises, you will need to move the CCTV Surveillance System, and the CCTV Installation Company can assist with this, although this would be an add on job, and not part of the CCTV Maintenance Contract.  If your company is expanding and has an extension built, it may be necessary to install new cameras and you will need to ask the CCTV Installation Company for advice.  Extra cameras can be added to most CCTV Systems, but it will depend on the model and configuration of the system as to whether this is possible.   If your company is in a growth industry, you will need to plan for expansion before installing the CCTV System so that the CCTV Installation Company can advise accordingly and install a system which can easily be expanded at a later date.

Regular contact with the CCTV Installation Company will ensure that your CCTV System remains current, meets your requirements, and that any problems are dealt with promptly and that cameras are not left switched off as you have not had the time to deal with them.   In a business environment, it is advisable to have one person in charge of the CCTV System and flag up any difficulties or required changes to management.  This could be part of the overall company security policy.

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Costs of CCTV Installations

Posted on January 10, 2012 by admin

Businesses and individual users of CCTV Surveillance Systems may have different reasons for installing them.  While businesses may be concerned about production and want to monitor activities on the factory floor, individuals are more concerned about security of their premises, especially in areas where crime is rife. Businesses will also want to protect their property using a CCTV Installation but the primary reasons may vary. There are many factors to take into account, such as whether the premises are in an urban high crime area or in a more remote location where the crime rate is lower, whether you want exterior as well as interior CCTV Surveillance Systems and whether the premises are business or domestic.  All of these will need to be taken into account before you can begin to cost out the options.

The configuration of a CCTV Installation will be larger, more sophisticated and therefore more expensive for a large business than that for an individual residence.  A CCTV Surveillance System for a business will have more cameras and accessories such as door entry systems.  A CCTV Installation for a small business can be designed for your needs and need not be expensive.  Retail units, office security, industrial units, pubs, factories, car parks and jewellers are just some of the small businesses who would benefit from installing a CCTV Surveillance System to protect the workforce, customers and property.  The types of cameras, image recording systems, the ability to view the images over the broadband connection and installation costs will all contribute to the costs of your CCTV Installation. If you want a basic system with a couple of cameras and a recording device, you can purchase this for less than £1000. High tech CCTV Surveillance Systems with state of the art cameras with pan and tilt and high level zoom functionality, this will cost more.  By shopping around and doing some basic research on the internet, you will be able to get an idea of the technology available and what might suit your particular requirements.  You should always get at least three quotations from CCTV Installers and provide the same specification to each CCTV Installation Company so you are comparing like for like.  For complex installations, it is advisable to engage a professional CCTV Installer to set up the system, make adjustments necessary and give basic training to the employee who will be responsible for monitoring the system.

For domestic situations, there are many CCTV Surveillance Systems available off the shelf, and costs need not be more than about £200 for a basic CCTV Installation with a couple of cameras.  It will depend on your proficiency in do-it-yourself as to whether you are able to install the CCTV Installation system yourself.  There are more sophisticated systems available for about £800+VAT for a CCTV Surveillance System with two cameras and recording unit supplied and fitted.

Whatever your reason for deciding to purchase a CCTV Surveillance System and whatever your circumstances, you will need to decide on the money you are prepared to spend to protect your premises.  The good news is that prices are less nowadays than they were five years ago, thanks to the development of off the shelf mass produced CCTV Installations which have been specifically developed for small businesses and home security.

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How to install a CCTV System

Posted on December 13, 2011 by admin

Installing a CCTV Surveillance System can be complicated but it will much depend on the type of CCTV Installation you need, its purpose and its proposed location.  A straight forward CCTV Installation for the home can simply be a couple of cameras, cabling, a monitor and a Digital Video Recorder (DVR).  If you do not wish to record the images, there will be no need for a DVR, but if the whole purpose of the CCTV Installation is for security, this would not be an option.  You may want to install a CCTV System just to see who is coming on to your property or for watching wildlife and birdlife in locations which are not generally accessible.

Many CCTV Systems for the home can be installed by the purchaser, using an instruction pack.   Most CCTV Installation Companies provide a help desk for easier systems, but complicated systems require expert assistance to decide on the best locations for the cameras and other equipment.  If the CCTV System consists of several cameras, they all have to be sited to maximise their output and monitor key scenes.  For example, pan and tilt cameras to record wildlife which are sited outside but operated from inside the premises can be very complicated.  Camera angles, types of cabling and hours of operation will all need to be taken into consideration.

Monitoring via the Internet adds to the complexity of the CCTV System and you will need to ask your Internet Service Provider (ISP) for a static Internet Protocol (IP) address.  You can use your computer to record images output from the CCTV System, or you can have a dedicated standalone DVR  specifically  for recording the output from the cameras.

The number of cameras you need will depend on the purpose of the application, but if you want to start with a couple of cameras, the CCTV System can be expanded to accept more at a later date if required.  The majority of computer software is plug and play nowadays, so if you are using the CCTV System in conjunction with the computer, just insert the set up disc and follow the instructions.   If you are recording using the DVR, this will need to be switched on at this stage. A stable surface should be used for each camera in the CCTV Surveillance System and plugged into a wall socket or onto a distribution board.  Direct the camera on the area you wish to monitor and turn it on.  You will need an assistant to help you adjust the camera and label the camera in the software. If that particular camera is monitoring the garden, you can label it “garden” and so on.   Once all the cameras have been installed, run a test of the CCTV System using the browser if you are using an internet capable computer.

Whether you choose to set up the CCTV Surveillance System yourself or use a professional CCTV Installer, once the system has been deployed, you will be able to monitor and record images for whatever purpose you choose. If the CCTV System monitors a public area, there are regulations regarding where the cameras are placed and what they are recording so take care not to contravene privacy laws.

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Modern CCTV Surveillance Systems

Posted on December 12, 2011 by admin

The installation of  CCTV Surveillance Systems in homes and businesses is becoming more and more common place, especially in urban areas.  CCTV Installations are used to monitor airports, high streets, shopping malls and individuals who habitually commit crimes. In homes,  CCTV Installations can be used to protect property which is particularly vulnerable, such as ground floor apartments and houses where there is no one in residence for most of the day.  If a particular property becomes a target, criminals may study the behaviour of the residents and monitor the hours they are away from the property at work so they can plan their burglaries. CCTV Surveillance Systems can be set up to record the actions of intruders on DVRs which can then be given to the police so they can assist with carrying out their investigations and catching the culprits.

There is a range of technology which has been developed over the years to assist with crime prevention and detection, including the ability to link the CCTV Installations to the internet so that the property can be viewed over a network on a computer or i-phone. CCTV Surveillance Systems generally consist of cameras, a DVR and cabling.  Advanced CCTV Installations  are available with remote systems and wi fi connections.  It depends on the  clients’ requirements as to which system is installed, but a reputable CCTV Installation Company will be able to advise what is available and appropriate for the deployment of the CCTV Surveillance System.  The type of system install will also will depend on the purpose of the CCTV Installation and the budget the client has available.   CCTV Surveillance Systems can be designed to meet the client’s requirements, and components selected to suit the situation.

More advanced CCTV Surveillance Systems can deal with information from many sources and cameras.  It may not even be necessary for the CCTV to be monitored constantly as the technology is available to alert operators when pre-determined people enter the area monitored by the cameras. In addition, the registration numbers of vehicles can be entered into the system and the operator alerted when the vehicle comes within range.  For these information-driven CCTV Surveillance Systems the data must of course be accurate and up to date.

It need not be expensive to install a CCTV Surveillance System and some CCTV Installation Companies sell off the shelf kits for self installation.  However, some level of expertise is required, and it may be more beneficial in the long run to engage a professional CCTV Installer to ensure that the system is set up correctly and to maximise the output.  To get the best out of the CCTV Surveillance System, cameras must be strategically placed and video images must be clear and of good quality.  Again, a good CCTV Installation Company will carry out a site survey and advise on the best camera to suit the requirements.  Once the types of cameras, screens and DVRs have been selected, the CCTV Installation Company will set up the and commission the equipment.

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