Policing

requirements for
Closed Circuit Television

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 Policing requirements for
Closed Circuit Television
Policing requirements for Closed Circuit Television

Closed circuit television (CCTV) systems can be used to enhance the safety
and security of your business, CCTV footage can also provide valuable
assistance to the police when investigating crimes and prosecuting offenders.

The use of CCTV systems includes the following:

• The presence of CCTV cameras may serve as a deterrent to

inappropriate or illegal activity. This is the preferred role of CCTV
systems – to prevent or reduce the opportunity for crime to occur.

• CCTV cameras can be used to provide real-time or recorded

surveillance over large areas, i.e., the perimeter boundary of protected
property, parking lots, retail stores, government buildings, etc.
This use of CCTV is sometimes referred to as video patrol.

• CCTV cameras can be integrated with other sensing systems (robbery

or burglary alarms), and used to view areas not immediately accessible
to personnel. This is often referred to as “event-driven cameras.”

• CCTV cameras and monitoring equipment can provide an historical

recall of events. Good quality preserved CCTV images can provide
valuable information and evidence for police related to inappropriate
or illegal activity.

• CCTV cameras may have a better viewing vantage than personnel.

If good quality CCTV footage of an incident is available, this can assist police
to clear up an investigation in a short time and successfully prosecute the
offender.

Unfortunately, many CCTV systems are not installed properly, have not been
maintained, provide poor quality video footage or are switched off/broken
at the time of the incident. If evidence is gained from a CCTV system in
such cases, it may be excluded by a court. A poorly installed, maintained,
or functioning CCTV system is only marginally better than having no CCTV
system at all.

2 This guide is intended for businesses intending to install a new CCTV system or reviewing the adequacy of an existing CCTV system.
Systems
Closed circuit television is used to detect crime and enhance public safety.
It is a recognised way to effectively provide surveillance for your business.
CCTV systems can be tailored to meet the requirements of a variety of property
types, such as retail shops, delis, petrol station, and offices. CCTV can range from
the simple to the complex. A CCTV system can, for instance, be used to identify
individuals entering a shop or identify vehicles passing through a service station.
Prior to installing a CCTV system, a business owner should determine the main
objectives of the system so that this can inform the design of the system and
purchase of appropriate equipment. Once the objectives of a business’ CCTV
have been decided, there are a number of system components that can
be installed.

The attributes of a good system that police can use for investigating crime are
listed below:

• Colour CCTV systems are the preferred system because they generally
provide better evidence than black and white (sometimes referred to as
monochrome). They permit a more realistic view of the image and make
identification of persons and things easier because of the more natural
image. However, they do need a greater amount of light than black and
white cameras and are of lower resolution (picture quality). Therefore,
a minimum of 300-400 lines of horizontal resolution is recommended.
Also bear in mind that colour CCTV is also more expensive than black
and white cameras. 3
Policing requirements for Closed Circuit Television

• All systems should record vision from all cameras at all times while
the system is turned on. Generally, it is recommended that a CCTV
system operates on a 24-hour basis.

• Digital Video Recorders (DVRs) are the preferred medium of choice

for recording and storing images. DVRs have computer-style hard
disk drives and have longer recording periods than Video Cassette
Recorders (VCRs), which are now no longer manufactured.
The image files of DVRs are of superior quality, do not degrade over
time, require less storage space, are easier to search and can be
viewed on a computer via a network. New data is also automatically
written over the oldest vision once the hard drive is full.

• All recorded vision should be watermarked with the time, date and
camera number/description that recorded it.

• The digital recorder used should be capable of generating a copy

of the recorded vision so that it can be given to police investigators
along with any special software required to view it.

• Dummy cameras are not recommended.

• Consider installing a small uninterrupted power supply (UPS) to

provide power to both DVR and cameras should mains power fail.

• Signs warning that CCTV is in use increase the deterrent affect of

4 CCTV cameras.
Installation
• The DVR should be installed in
a secure location where it will
not be exposed to dust/water or
extremes in temperature. Like a
computer, a DVR generates heat
so if placed in a locked cupboard
adequate ventilation is necessary.

• Access to the DVR should be

strictly controlled by management.
If the images are used in a court proceeding, management may be
required to name the individuals who were able to access the equipment
in order to assure the court that the data was not interfered with.

• A monitor should be installed with the DVR to allow viewing of the

recorded vision.

• Cameras should be firmly fixed and should not be subject to vibrations,

knocking or other movement that will affect the quality of the images
captured.

• Cameras should never look directly into the sun or strong lights since the
intensity may burn a permanent spot on the sensitive surface and make
permanent white scars in the presentation.

• Cameras located outside a business should be positioned out of reach

of passers-by to prevent unauthorised moving or theft. Consider fitting
anti-tamper brackets to all externally mounted equipment.

• Ensure there is sufficient light for the camera to view the scene at all
times. This may mean installing additional lights or higher wattage
globes in existing lights.

• Be aware that at different times of the day the sun, or car headlights, may
shine directly into a camera’s lens. Glare will significantly affect the video
image. After installation, check the quality of the recordings at different
times of the day and night to ensure good quality vision.

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 • Professional advice is recommended when installing a new
CCTV system or upgrading an existing system. Trained consultants
can provide advice specifically for your business and the commercial
environment in which it operates. Consulting a reputable CCTV
Policing requirements for Closed Circuit Television

company will ensure that your business obtains the best quality CCTV
images for both crime prevention and criminal investigation purposes.

Set-Up
• Camera placement is critical to the success of all CCTV systems.

• Recorded vision should be ideally held on the recorder for 30 days

before being overwritten.

• Ensure the capture rate is set to provide clear images of the actions
of people. Low capture rates have people appearing ‘jerky’ and
may miss important evidence of a crime. Faster capture rates make
the person’s actions smoother, more natural and capture all of their
movements. A minimum of six frames per second is recommended.
Twenty-five frames per second is considered to be real time
recording.

• However, the higher the capture rate the more hard disk space will be
required on the DVR. Therefore, a balance between best practice and
best evidence is required. Nevertheless, do not sacrifice the quality of
the image to increase the length of time the vision is retained. It is a
much better investment to buy a larger hard disk drive.
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• Cameras should cover strategic areas
that capture the action of people.
At least one camera should be set to
capture images of people, enabling
them to be identified (both from their
physical appearance and their facial
qualities).

• Camera placement can be determined

by sketching out a floor plan. Consider
the distance from the camera to the
area under surveillance and the field of view the camera will record.

• Ensure cameras are implemented at eye level behind counter areas.

This enables a perfect image of an offender. Cameras on ceilings do not
assist in identification.

• Ensure that any overhead mounted cameras capture sufficient facial

detail of people and avoid the tendency to place a camera up high that
will only focus on the tops of their heads.

• Cameras for vulnerable locations should be mounted strategically at

areas of high cash turnover and also directly outside premises.

• When setting up cameras in your business, remember to play back the

recorded product to ensure the image quality is appropriate. If you can’t
distinguish the detail of the person in the image then neither will police.

• If a camera is set simply to cover a wide area it will usually not provide
police with sufficient detail to identify the person. It is better to set
up a number of cameras, each with a specific purpose (see the table
and information on CCTV camera locations and purpose). This way,
when police view the recorded vision, the individual views will provide
sufficient evidence to show what took place.

• Video motion detectors can be used in areas such as fire escape

stairwells, health spas, and swimming pools that are used infrequently.
When the CCTV system is activated and movement occurs at the target
location, the DVR unit commences recording. However, do not use video
motion detection on an external application without careful planning.
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 CCTV camera locations
and purpose
Policing requirements for Closed Circuit Television

The purpose of CCTV cameras is to observe,

detect, recognise and identify.

The first table shows the differences between

each purpose and the second table describes
examples of how camera locations could be
used in practice.

OBSERVE DETECT RECOGNISE IDENTIFY

This is where a A person or A person or At 120 percent of

person or vehicle vehicle will occupy vehicle will occupy the monitor’s
(target) occupies 10 percent of the 50 percent of the viewing height,
5 percent of the monitor’s viewing monitor’s viewing images are of
monitor’s viewing height. height. suitable quality to
height. enable identification
At this size, the At this field of view,
of individuals
Cameras located to target’s image will the target’s image
and provide
observe and enable be adequate for can be recognised
distinguishing
the viewer to know detection using if they are already
features of vehicle
someone was there. video motion known to staff.
number plates.
The time and date detection, if installed They would not be
Police will have the
stamp shows what on the system, accurately identified
greatest chance of
time they were but would be too if they are unknown.
enlarging the images
there. The image size small to identify the However, the person
and capturing
will be too small for person for evidence could be recognised
vital details.
identification but purposes. If a system as the same person
will place a person or is monitored it will in different camera
vehicle at the scene provide enough shots.
when considered detail to indicate
with other images the person is
- ie: recognise and doing something
identify. suspicious.

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LOCATION CAMERA OBJECTIVE

Entrance and exit doors to Identify Identify all people entering and
the business leaving the business.

Service counters Identify Identify and clearly record actions of

customers and staff at the counter.

High value merchandise Recognise Clearly record actions of customers

and staff at the counter.

Payment points Recognise Clearly record actions of customers at

(customer side) the payment point.

Payment points Recognise Clearly record actions of staff at the

(business side) payment point.

Vehicle gates / drive ways Recognise Clearly record entry and departure of
all vehicles.

Shop floors / display areas Detect Identify customers and staff and
establish their movements through
the shop.

Car parks Observe Determine the data and time that

people and vehicles were in the car
park and location within.

Fuel station forecourts Recognise Capture images of vehicles and people

re-fuelling vehicles.

Fuel station forecourts Identify Identify all vehicle number plates.

Hazardous materials Recognise Clearly record actions of customers

and staff at the counter.
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 CCTV system maintenance
and management
Policing requirements for Closed Circuit Television

For CCTV vision to be useful to investigators and accepted in a court of law,

its integrity needs to be ensured. Evidence is required to show that the
CCTV system has been maintained and the data appropriately managed
according to the following guidelines.

Maintenance
• All systems should be regularly maintained and tested.

• One of the primary maintenance issues associated with CCTV systems

is keeping the glass front of the housing clean. To this effect, some
camera housing units actually come with their own blades and wiper
fluid dispenser. Ensure that camera protective coverings are clean as a
build-up of dust or dirt will degrade recorded images.

• Dome enclosures for interior ceiling-mounted cameras need to be

kept free of dust and other materials.

• Each week a check should be made of the system’s time and date
against a known accurate clock (e.g. Telstra’s talking clock, telephone
1900-931-239 at a per call fee).

• On a weekly basis management should review the vision recorded

from each camera to ensure the images are still being captured with
the desired view and that they are still in focus.

• Visually check the mountings of all cameras weekly to ensure they

are still securely fixed and have not been accidentally bumped or
tampered with.

• A written maintenance log should be kept for the CCTV system.

The log should record what checks were conducted and the details
of who conducted them. It should be signed by the person
completing the checks at the time they were carried out.

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 • Remember, all CCTV equipment has a finite life span but usually greater
than 5 years. It is recommended that a maintenance contract be secured
to cover CCTV installations. Such maintenance usually serves to extend
the lifespan of the equipment. Plan to replace your system according to
the manufacturer’s recommendation.

Data Management
• Recorded vision will only be useful in evidence if its integrity can
be assured.

• Therefore, recorded vision must not be manipulated, changed or

enhanced in any way.

• The number of employees who have access to the CCTV equipment

and the vision data should be limited to those essential for the system’s
maintenance.

• Provide training on the operation of the system to key staff who will be
providing police with the recorded vision. Where possible, it is preferable
the staff members selected for this role are likely to be on site or readily
contactable in the event of an incident so that video footage can be
quickly provided to police.

• It is important to have the CCTV system documented and a user manual

on hand that describes how the system operates.
These can be kept with the maintenance log.

• The person who provides the vision data to police will become a witness.
They should have a good understanding of the CCTV system and be able
to give evidence in court on the steps they took to make a copy of the
data for the police.

Further Reading
Australian Standard 4806.1–2006: Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) —
Management and Operation. This booklet provides a list of recommendations
for CCTV systems regarding the management and procedures for recorded
material, as well as privacy and disclosure issues, and system documentation.

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Contacts

State Community Policing Services – Phone (03) 6230 2178

Crime Prevention & Community Safety Council – Phone (03) 6230 2154
Email cpcsc@police.tas.gov.au

Tasmania Police Emergency Calls – 000

Tasmania Police Attendance (For non-urgent matters) – 131 444

Crime Stoppers – 1800 333 000

Victim of Crime Service – 1300 300 238

Other Business Crime Prevention Resources

Australian Standard Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) AS 4806.1 – 2006 / AS 4806.2 – 2006

www.crimeprevention.gov.au

www.standards.org.au

Australian Institute of Criminology – www.aic.gov.au

Tasmania Police – www.police.tas.gov.au

Tasmania Police wish to acknowledge South Australia Police for materials provided for this booklet.

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