Security Alarm Systems

Through reading and lots of BBC America, I know that Great Britain has widespread use of Closed Circuit TV.

Can you share general info on things such as:
Are they really widespread, or only in heavy population areas?
Do other countries use them on a similar scale?
Are they controversial in any way?
Do they reduce crime and/or make crimes easier to solve?
Does anyone besides Law Enforcement and the Security Service have access to the footage?
Can their images be viewed live, or only tape-delayed?

Basically, just interested in any general info you care to share about such systems.

Can you help enlighten me?
Thanks!
BTW, I am aware that we have such systems in the US. It just seems much more widespread in the UK.
I’m appreciative of the detailed answers, thanks!
Some great answers, I’m going to have to let the Community decide the Best one. Thanks!

I live in a terrace house behind a high street of shops and between my house and the shops is a large back alley. Currently there is alot of anti social behaviour going on in the back alley like people setting bins on fire, vandalism and burglary (including my house) just to name a few things! The police and the fire service are always been called out and the people who do these things just get away with it!

I really want to install a CCTV camera on my house pointing into the back alley to see everything that goes on and hopefully catch some people red handed, but I really no nothing about the rules of having CCTV and how to run and record CCTV cameras.

So firstly, am I allowed to put a camera on my house pointing at my back gate and the back alley? Where are the best places to buy cameras? (UK) How do I record what the cameras see?? I have one very slow computer. Could having cameras on my house make my house a target? Anything else you might think will help me??

Thanks!

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A closed circuit television (CCTV) system is an integral component of the security measures adopted by businesses. Business premises as well as business processes need to be monitored on a regular basis to ensure safety. The need and extent of safety required helps decide the investment required for the CCTV system; for example, deciding whether procuring a single camera and monitor will suffice or a complex video surveillance system with multiple cameras, multiple operators and digital recorders is required.

The investment in a simple or hi-tech system is justified on the basis of the following benefits of a CCTV system that:

Helps surveillance of areas that require security round the clock
Helps observe and control traffic
Prevents theft/ shoplifting, robbery and other crimes
Helps identify and initiate legal procedures against offenders with visual evidence from the CCTV footage
Raise alarms on approaching dangers or avoidable circumstances
Besides the many advantages listed above, one of the key reasons that contributes to the popularity of a CCTV surveillance system is the advancements in technology. CCTV systems have come a long way from being cumbersome, expensive and complex systems requiring expert help to simple, easy-to-use systems that are easy to configure, easy to maintain and reasonably priced. Moreover, the new range of surveillance systems offer more options, clarity and versatility than before.

Equally importantly, the benefits of installing a CCTV are not limited to business enterprises but also private property owners and households that can feel safe and secure with an efficient surveillance system.

Quotation Junction recognises the gravity of making the right decision where security is concerned. This is why we provide a buyer’s guide; to inform potential buyers of the types and cost of CCTV equipment that is available. Whether you are interested in CCTV in London or CCTV elsewhere in the UK , our buyer’s guide will give you the information that helps you fill out an online quotation-request form with confidence. It contains details of CCTV systems , CCTV equipment , CCTV suppliers dealing in CCTV in London as well as for the rest of the country. You can then be as specific as you require about the CCTV systems or CCTV equipment you are interested in and whether you want to buy CCTV from London -based CCTV suppliers or whether you would like to buy your CCTV systems from elsewhere. We then collate requests, on your behalf, from our database of CCTV suppliers that covers the entire country.

Closed circuit television (CCTV) plays a significant role in protecting, preventing and assisting in the investigation of crime. CCTV has been thought to be an effective tool, particularly as an aid to detection, and when used as part of a wider crime reduction strategy. However, the effectiveness of CCTV systems varies significantly in terms of coverage, monitoring, quality of images, uses and therefore the impact that CCTV can have on local crime and disorder.

 The United Kingdom is considered to be the CCTV capital of the world and given the difficulties associated with the diverse state of CCTV coverage referred to above the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO)* [1] recognised the need to address the various problems. In April 2005, the ACPO CCTV/Video Working Group submitted a paper to the Home Office suggesting that there was a need to develop a strategy for the future development of public space CCTV The strategy would need to determine a programme of activity that should be undertaken in order to maximise the operational effectiveness of the country’s current CCTV infrastructure. *[2]

 The British Standards Group (BSI) *[3] has also released a code of practice “British Standard BS8418” which covers the installation and remote monitoring of detector activated CCTV systems and sets out to raise the standard of installation and operation of integrated systems, this is a code of practice for the installation and remote monitoring of detector activated CCTV systems. The document provides recommendations on best practice for the design, installation, commissioning and operation of detector activated CCTV systems. This British standard is now mandated by UK Police jurisdictions and insurance companies.

Increasingly sophisticated intruder alarms are being integrated to incorporate ’smart’ detectors and CCTV cameras to provide a means of verifying, or confirming if an alarm is genuine. I recall the term “Videofied” from a French company which produces and sells wireless video verification alarm system integrated in one device. This technology ensures that the appropriate response can be actioned quickly and effectively by key holders, and more importantly by the Police. To minimise the number of false alarms that the Police attend, the Police will now only issue a Unique Reference Number (URN) to systems that comply with BS8418.

This not only affects the overall design of the system, but also the performance of motion detectors, CCTV cameras, alarm handling and how the system is maintained. Researchers from the University of Portsmouth one of the respected UK universities have designed artificial intelligence software to allow CCTV cameras fitted with microphones to recognize sounds such as crowd noise and windows smashing. The cameras would ‘hear’ noises associated with violence, and automatically swivel to record the event. This is a typical example of why the UK CCTV strategy for future will need also to address concerns of a ‘Big Brother’ society and the overuse of CCTV.

*[1]- http://www.acpo.police.uk/

*[2]- UK CCTV National Strategy 2007

*[3]- http://www.bsigroup.com/en/

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