CCTV security cameras are everywhere these days – from public spaces to businesses and homes. They help keep crime in check by discouraging would-be criminals and can also provide crucial evidence if something does happen. In this article, we’ll take a look at how CCTV cameras play a role in preventing crime and why it’s important to get them professionally installed in the UK.

What is CCTV?

The term ‘CCTV’ stands for closed-circuit television. Far from an entertainment unit, CCTV is a system of cameras and monitors that record video for surveillance purposes. Cameras placed around your premises transmit signals to a monitor or multiple monitors, allowing you to view them live as well as record the footage for later use. CCTV can be used to monitor and record activity in both public and private places, from roads, airports and town centres to businesses, commercial buildings and residential properties.

Fun fact for the day – CCTV was first invented in 1942 by German scientists to track V2 rockets during World War II. Since then it’s been continuously developed to become smaller, more effective and easier to use, so that it’s now a readily available product for commercial and domestic customers.

The Benefits of CCTV for Business Crime Prevention

As a business owner, CCTV should be an important part of your security system. Even if you don’t have a retail premises, but instead work from an industrial unit, on the road or even from home, having a CCTV system in place can provide you with a huge number of benefits. Honestly, the value of CCTV can’t be overstated. Not only does it play a huge role in deterring criminals from targeting your business, but it also reassures the public, and helps the authorities with their jobs should an incident happen.

If you were unfortunately the victim of a burglary, vandalism or even shoplifting, having a CCTV system in place can make all the difference. It helps you to identify weak spots in your security, allows police to reconstruct the crime and gather valuable information like images and videos of the perpetrator, areas they might have touched, and any witnesses there might have been. They can also use it to put a timeline of events together, which can help them ‘follow’ the criminal after the crime and help track them down.

It all sounds like an episode of Law and Order, right? It gets better. Once a suspect is caught, CCTV evidence can be used in prosecution, letting the court and jurors see the aspects of the crime being described. Seeing is believing after all. So as well as deterring criminals and keeping your premises safe, CCTV for your business can also:

• Allow you to identify entry and exit routes from the scene of the incident, allowing you to address security issues.
• Identify behaviour and activities before, during and after an incident.
• Identify any forensic opportunities for the authorities, like DNA and fingerprints.
• Help identify suspects, witnesses and vehicles involved.
• Verify a witness, victim or suspect account of the incident
• Establish a timeline of events
• Provide evidence of preparatory activities

The Regulations Around CCTV

Of course, there are some rules to the use of CCTV, especially as it can be such an invasive technology. The use of CCTV in the UK is regulated by data protection laws, which state that anyone using CCTV must:

• Inform people that they are being recorded through clear signage
• Only use the footage for legitimate reasons
• Store footage securely for a limited time
• Provide access to recording if requested by the person captured
• All while respecting privacy boundaries and avoiding excessive intrusion.

These regulations are a touch complicated to understand, but as a basic overview of the key points:

Notification is mandatory: clear signage must be displayed anywhere that CCTV is in operation, informing people that they are being recorded. This in itself is a pretty good deterrent for criminals, but it’s important to note that this applies to domestic properties as well as public areas and businesses.

Data protection compliance: GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018 both state that CCTV footage is considered personal data. That means you need to be in full compliance with both of those laws if you want to use it.

Purpose limitation: CCTV should only be used for specific and justifiable reasons. For a business, this means security and crime prevention, and not just generally keeping an eye on the staff. (And yes, people have asked us to do just that!)

Access to footage: Under GDPR individuals have the right to request access to their own CCTV footage. If you receive a request for this, then you must provide it within a reasonable timeframe.

Storage limitations: All CCTV footage should be stored securely, and only for as long as necessary. This means you will need regular deletion practices in place to manage your compliance.

Privacy considerations: Cameras should not capture more than is necessary, and should avoid overly intrusive areas. This is true for all cameras, but especially for residential areas, or business premises that can see residential properties.

ICO regulation: The Information Commissioner’s Office (or ICO) requires that anyone using CCTV for commercial purposes needs to register with them. This usually involves filling in some forms and paying a small annual fee.

As you might have gathered by now, CCTV plays a key role in crime prevention, offering valuable protection for both businesses and residential properties. By acting as a deterrent to criminals and providing essential evidence in the event of an incident, CCTV systems help ensure a safer environment. While there are important regulations and privacy considerations to keep in mind, proper installation and responsible use of CCTV can significantly enhance security and offer peace of mind. Whether you’re a business owner or a homeowner, investing in a professionally installed CCTV system is a smart step toward safeguarding your property and contributing to the fight against crime. If you’d like to know more about CCTV, how it works or how much it would cost to install at your premises, just get in touch with one of our team today.