The are many reasons why a business would want to install CCTV, from safety and security to crime prevention in the workplace, its uses are extremely varied. If you’re considering investing in some CCTV coverage, here three things to consider that can save you time, money and frustration further down the line.
Fit for purpose
You need your CCTV to do a specific job for you, whether that’s recording faces or monitoring a whole yard, so specifying the right system is vital. It’s no good trying to monitor vehicles entering a site if the camera is too far away or not high-resolution enough, or trying to monitor a warehouse when you can’t see every access point and corner in the camera’s field of vision. There is a solution for every purpose, so it’s very important you plan ahead and decide exactly what you need.
Pinch points
Some businesses have very large sites, even if you catch a crime on CCTV from a distance, it’s not necessarily clear enough to secure a conviction, but having lots of cameras can be costly. You can greatly increase your efficiency if you identify ‘pinch points’ where criminals may enter the site and monitor these closely with a high-detail image. If you can get their face on camera when they enter, the later wide shot of their crime is easier to link to a specific person.
The system
While the cameras are the most visible element of a CCTV system, a lot more goes on behind the scenes. The capture, storage and retrieval is very important, as is image resolution, frame rates and compression. If any of the links in the chain are weak, the whole system can let you down. It is therefore recommended that you get professional help, so you can be sure the job is done right, using BS EN 50132-7 accredited equipment from a UKAS accredited company. That way, you can be sure that every element of your security solution has been optimised by professionals to deliver the best service it can deliver, so you don’t have any nasty surprises.
