Used in conjunction with other methods and strategies, CCTV can be very effective but beware, as a stand-alone crime prevention tool, it is a non-starter.

Whilst all external areas of business premises should ideally be under surveillance, CCTV is not automatically the best answer to every security risk.

Advice can be obtained from a range of sources, including Crime Reduction Officers or Police Architectural Liaison Officers prior to installing a system. This may help to avoid commissioning inappropriate solutions.

A wide variety of systems are available
Systems can be fitted with facilities to pan, zoom and tilt; cameras are also available which will operate in low light. It is also possible for CCTV to interface with alarm systems &endash; upon activation of an alarm, the CCTV will record all visible activity. Alternatively, CCTV systems may relay information to an observer, who then sounds the alarm.

Remote monitoring is now practical and cost-effective. This substantially reduces the required level of guarding and saves costs. Real-time visual verification, which is digitally stored for later review, allows immediate Police response and minimises false alarms.

Selecting the appropriate system
• Assess the objectives of the scheme.

• Identify the expectations of the surveillance.

• How will the desired results be achieved?

• Confirm what you actually hope the system will see.

• Identify the prevailing lighting conditions and other environmental constraints, e.g. obstruction by buildings, furniture, (inside and out), trees, and signs.

• Is there a need for fixed cameras or fully functional pan, tilt and zoom?

• Is it anticipated that the camera operator will need to track a person walking, a cyclist, a car etc. or is the camera to survey a static site only?

• Do the cameras need to be colour or monochrome?

• How will the CCTV be monitored and recorded?

• Consider the means by which communication links will be achieved between the scheme and the Police.

• Is there a need for a purpose-designed monitoring room or will you be connected to a remote control centre?

• If a control centre is to be established, what equipment will be required?

• Are the cameras to be controlled and monitored from a CCTV control centre on a regular basis?

• Where a dedicated monitoring room is not to be established, suitable compromises must be investigated, but strict control must be exercised over the information gained from the system, its evidence gathering potential and deterrent value.

• Will the system be manned, left to record only or maybe a mixture of both? Either way the need for equipment to enable tape erasure and tape review must be considered.

• Is the video footage obtained expected to be of evidential quality?

• Consideration must be given to the right to privacy of individuals. The Data Protection Act demands that all CCTV systems (both internal and external) be registered with your Local Authority.

Staff training
The recruitment and training of staff is crucial. No matter how much time and money is spent on the design and implementation of a scheme, if the information gained i.e. the information on each video tape, is not handled properly and in accordance with the rules of evidence, the whole scheme will rapidly become discredited.

Specific guidelines must be followed to ensure that taped evidence is acceptable and it must comply with the Code of Practice. For further information on the correct procedures, contact your Crime Reduction Officer for a booklet.

Dummy cameras
Any consideration to install 'dummy' cameras should be avoided. There is a danger that they could instil a false sense of security, they have no deterrent value and, having drawn up specific objectives of the proposed scheme, it is unlikely that the installation of 'dummies' will achieve any of those objectives after a very brief period of time.

Advertise the system
The erection of signs informing people that the premises are under CCTV surveillance adds to the deterrent value.