Most people are aware of CCTV surveillance as it are widely used commercially

and in the public sector - for example, in town centres, shops and on public
transport - and often featured in the media.
CCTV is an acronym for Closed Circuit Television: "closed circuit" as in an
installation of directly connected components creatin a circuit which cannot be
viewed by anybody outside of the circuit, unli!e a terrestrial television broadcast
system which can be viewed by anybody with the appropriate reception
e"uipment.
#n obvious use for CCTV is to prevent crime and malpractice but it is also a
valuable business manaement tool offerin staff protection, supportin $ealth %
&afety initiatives, aidin investiations, provin innocence and avoidin lawsuits'
other examples of its use are help with production control and other observational
ob(ectives in factories where, for example, conditions are unsuitable for human
intervention. )t can be used a wide rane of other applications, such as traffic
surveys, !eepin an eye on livestoc! and for monitorin wildlife activity, to name
but few.
The use of CCTV in the home environment is becomin more popular. *ot only
does it improve eneral security, it can help to defend aainst anti social
behaviour, and is a way of !eepin an eye on children and pets.
CCTV systems in the public arena are overned by the +ata ,rotection #ct of
-.//' those in a domestic environment are overned by the $uman 0ihts #ct.
C)#1s expert system desiners and technicians tailor-ma!e CCTV systems to suit
individual re"uirements, from simple one camera and monitor systems to multiple
camera systems that are fully interated with other security installations.
There are three basic elements to a CCTV system:
-. Camera
2. 3ens
4. Monitor unit
The camera is the element which captures the imae and transmits it bac! to a
monitor. The camera needs a lens to be able to focus on the sub(ect. There are a
wide variety of lenses to suit different applications.
The monitor is the receiver unit which converts the captured imae into a picture,
allowin you to see it.
This is a very common "uestion and a number of factors overn the answer, such
as price, what you want from the system and which cameras are most
appropriate for your particular environment.
# CCTV system should be desined to suit your needs. The installin company
should provide uidance on the suitability of different options, features and
benefits - includin colour and monochrome units. )t may be that you need a
camera that will wor! in colour durin the day and automatically switch to
monochrome at niht5
#s it is not usually practical to have a dedicated person to sit and watch a monitor
26 hours a day, the imae captured by the camera needs to be recorded so that
it can be viewed later, if necessary.
Traditionally, this was done with a time lapse Video Cassette 0ecorder 7VC08
which wor!ed on the same principle as an ordinary domestic video but with the
ability to record for a much loner period of time.
$owever, the VC0 has now been superseded by the diital +iital Video 0ecorder
7+V08. The +V0 stores the imaes on to a dis! drive in the same way a home
computer stores data. # +V0 recordin lasts loner than a video tape, it does not
wear out and the "uality of the imae is superior. 9ou can also search for an
incident easily by time and date.
Most systems today comprise of more than one camera, but you don:t need a
monitor and recorder for each camera' several cameras can share one monitor
and hard disc recorder.
;"uipment is available that will split the monitor into four separate screens
displayin four cameras, or a four way se"uence unit can be used which allows
you to choose which camera you would li!e to view. #lternatively, the automatic
mode it will se"uence throuh the four cameras that are connected.
$owever, the most common way of controllin multiple cameras is via a
multiplexer.
To !eep it simple, a multiplexer incorporates the above facilities but also has the
ability to individually code mar! each imae from each camera and because of
this, a multiplexer allows all of the cameras on a system to be recorded onto one
tape or hard drive unit. The multiplexer then uses these code mar!s to play bac!
the recorded picture from the camera that you wish to view.
$istorically multiplexers and recordin units were separate pieces of e"uipment,
but recently a number of manufactures have developed units that do both (obs.
# CCTV system can be desined to fit any scenario you care to imaine, usin
options from the vast rane of e"uipment available from manufactures worldwide.
Cameras can be internal or external, hihly visible or covert. They can be static or
fully controllable<movable from a remote location. 9ou can have one camera or
hundreds' you can record for one day or 2- days. =ith a suitable internet
connection, you can even view your property when you are abroad.
>et the picture?555
#lthouh CCTV systems can be purchased from +)9 stores, and a capable
handyman can install it, it should be remembered that the results from a CCTV
system will only ever be as ood as the e"uipment used.
)n around @AB of all cases, CCTV footae is found to be inadmissible as evidence
in a Court of 3aw because the "uality of the evidence is considered inade"uate.
This can be the result of poor desin and bad installation and clearly hihlihts
the importance of see!in professional advice from the outset.
# competent specialist company should be able to demonstrate their
professionalism and experience in desin and installation of CCTV systems. Most
importantly, you must feel confident that the company you choose will listen to
and understand your individual CCTV re"uirements. Their experience with lens
optics and camera technoloy will uarantee you satisfaction with your system.
# specialist company will also ensure the best value for money by usin a
different lens or camera mountin positions, for example, which can not only
monitor the area at ris! but also ive an outline view of the surroundin area at
the same time.
CCTV systems can aid the monitorin of stoc!, personnel, visitors, access control
and prevent health and safety incidences.
&ystems can rane from a simple analoue internal pac!ae for smaller premises
to hihly advanced diital systems interated with intruder, access control and
fire systems.
)t is imperative to install the riht e"uipment for specific situations and
circumstances if you are to et the most out of the system. That:s where the
expertise of our system desiners and enineers ensures the technoloy wor!s
for you.
)maes can be recorded locally and there is also the facility for them to be
monitored remotely by our alarm receivin centre who will alert the police or
response aency.
Csin the very latest technoloy and hihest "uality e"uipment, we can ta!e
CCTV beyond simple basic observation usin:
&olo or Multi Camera &ystems
Concealed 7Covert8 Cameras
Colour or Monochrome &ystems
Movement #ctivated &ystems
#+,0D 0emote Camera Monitorin &ystems )nstalled to E& /6-/
# CCTV system must be reistered in order to comply with the +ata ,rotection
#ct of -../.
&ince 26 Dctober 2AA-, it has been a criminal offence to have an unreistered
CCTV system that records people in a public or a private place 7conditions apply8.
The Code of ,ractice contains leally enforceable :&tandards: that must be met to
ensure compliance with the +ata ,rotection #ct -../.
There are also a further 4A points of ood wor!in practice which, when used in
con(unction with the &tandards, are desined to build and maintain public
confidence in CCTV systems and to ensure that installers and users operate within
the law.