On the face of it, end users can benefit from considerable cost savings by installing a remotely-monitored CCTV set-up in preference to a fully-staffed manned guarding operation.
There’s no doubt that manned security costs to the end user are increasing (given the introduction of a minimum wage of GB pound 4.10 per hour, the increase equates to 49% over two years). This has had a knock-on or ‘ratchet’ effect on all related wages. The new lone worker directive has also increased costs – guards can no longer work alone, so the end user is effectively paying double what they were before. And that’s before you take into account increased holiday and sickness costings.
That said, when it comes to remote CCTV and monitoring there are a number of operational requirements – or ‘commandments’ – which must be met so that the end user benefits from a high quality, efficient system set-up. Those requirements include surveying, design, installation, service and monitoring.
Surveying represents the first stage in providing a remotely-monitored CCTV system, and is one of the most critical. It’s of the utmost importance that the location and coverage of cameras and areas of external movement detection are correct for each individual application, whether it be for a location on an industrial estate or a hi-tech business park, for a retail, banking or food processing concern.
In providing a remote CCTV system, it is easy for an inexperienced and non-accredited electronic security company to overlook an area that intruders could potentially infiltrate, or to provide excessive coverage to one particular area. The end result of the latter would be many unnecessary alarm activations.
However, the specialised remote CCTV companies out there will explore every possible scenario of trespass so that they glean effective coverage. They will locate cameras and any form of perimeter detection in those areas that ensure the early detection of any unwanted visitors on a site, such that they will not cause any unnecessary alarm activations.
The location of audio equipment is also vitally important. Speakers deployed to issue verbal warnings to unwanted visitors must be sited in an area where the remote visual monitoring operator can easily communicate with an intruder, and in whichever manner the customer specifies.
The design of the remote monitoring system must take all of these factors into account, with the design team providing the end user with detailed drawings clearly showing all areas of coverage, and a written specification citing camera viewing areas and detection fields.
A professional and knowledgeable engineering team should be appointed to carry out the system installation and subsequent service. Remote CCTV systems incorporate a high level of technology, thus only qualified engineers should be employed to do the necessary work. Remote CCTV systems must also have a form of failure detection and system back-up. There are systems available with failure detection covering communications (ie the ISDN line), video and audio which may be backed up still further by satellite transmission.
It’s true to say that security system subscribers have suffered more than their fair share of criticism from the police and the security industry alike for causing false alarm operation due to a poor understanding of system operation. The need to train remote CCTV end users thoroughly has perhaps never been more important than it is today.
Any failures in this area of security provision will not only cause those annoying false activations, but also incur unnecessary monitoring fees.
End user training needs to be carried out by experienced individuals who will conduct written tests to ensure that their ‘hands on’ training has been absorbed and is fully understood. In those cases where managers and their officers do not reach an acceptable pass level they will have to undergo retraining.
Information about the site
To guarantee the effective monitoring of a given site the CCTV installation company must provide the end user monitoring centre with several vital pieces of information about the site, including: site procedures, staff working patterns and times, the presence of visitors outside of normal working hours, points of contact, key holders and audio address procedures. They must also provide a detailed ‘bit map’ showing camera and detector locations, as well as a site plan.
In addition to being highly secure and employing professional operators, the monitoring centre must work to BS 5979 guidelines. In virtually every commercial sector technology rules our lives, but in every application the human interface is vital. Remote monitoring is no different, as it requires human intervention and response for it to work.
Ultimately, operators can be seen as the combination of a security and customer relations officer – they must possess the necessary skills to interface with both genuine visitors and intruders alike.
When installed and monitored by an experienced, professional company, remotely-monitored CCTV security systems can be highly effective in detecting and discouraging crime, reducing insurance claims and preventing disruption to business.
In view of the new ACPO policy, these systems also ensure that end users don’t miss out on vital police response by providing visual alarm confirmation.
