Get The Most From Your CCTV System 

The use of recording closed circuit television (CCTV) surveillance systems is an established procedure for commercial institutions, like warehouses, banks, retail stores, convenience stores, and many other types of businesses. CCTV systems are an excellent deterrence because would-be criminals will avoid these systems whenever possible. Also, with CCTV in place, security personnel are better able to interrupt a criminal act in progress. In the United Kingdom, for example, there has been an explosion in recent years of CCTV surveillance in public and common areas such as town centers. Britain now boasts of employing the most extensive CCTV surveillance system anywhere in the world.  Recent research conducted by the Violence Research Group, University of Wales College of Medicine determined that, CCTV surveillance was associated with increased police detection of violence, and with reduction in numbers of people injured in assault. 

CCTV PERFORMANCE TIPS 

• It’s important that you have sufficient number of well-placed cameras to allow for sufficient detail and coverage of the area you are protecting.
• Ensure there is adequate and proper lighting in the target areas.
• Business owners should have written procedures and all involved personnel should be trained in how to react to a criminal event.
• Businesses should create and adhere to a regular system maintenance program.
• In order to facilitate possible prosecution, any recordings made by the CCTV system that capture a crime must be preserved in a way that enables police to document a chain of custody of the original images.

 DESIGNING YOUR CCTV SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM 

Achieving optimal image quality requires attention to a number of factors that include: 

• Positioning and choice of lenses, cameras 
• Types of recorders
• Data compression methods
• Storage space

These considerations are all connected and have to be coordinated. If, for example, you add cameras to a system already in place, you could need to adjust storage amounts and image recording rates from individual cameras. Be sure to make a careful assessment of the physical plant in which the CCTV system will be installed. Analysis of this assessment is a key ingredient of a successfully designed system. Your survey should include a site plan depicting where each camera is placed and what is its viewing field. And don’t forget to test you system to ensure the images it produces will satisfy your purposes.

WHAT TO INCLUDE IN YOUR CCTV SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM  

The list of components for a basic CCTV system should comprise the following:  

• Fixed and/or mobile camera(s) 
• Recording apparatus that allows for recordings to be removed from the device
• A monitor

Remember: you must include a minimum of one camera at each exit, every customer purchase point and at key areas such as safes. Aim exit cameras toward the inside of the building and all cameras in a way that affords a clear frontal view of the heads and shoulders of anyone who makes a purchase or exits the building. At a minimum, there must be at least one camera for every exit and every customer purchase point.  The lenses on exit cameras should be configured a depth-of-field extending from three feet to beyond ten feet. This will offer the added benefit of providing overviews of the interior and head-to-foot views of people as they enter and exit the facility.  

If installed properly, an investment of a CCTV security system will pay for itself many times over the life of the system. And, of course, your safety and that of your family and employees are priceless.