Most of us know and recognise the inherent benefits of a well-thought out, designed and installed CCTV system. Such systems act as a positive deterrent to crime and – more importantly, perhaps – the ‘captured’ images can provide valuable admissible evidence for security managers and police alike when it comes to apprehending and prosecuting miscreants.
The benefits don’t stop there, though. Managers can use their surveillance systems to monitor visitors to their premises, review customer flow (in retail outlets and the like) and check on the status of emergency routes leading from the premises in the event of an emergency. In addition, a well-designed CCTV set-up can also help in containing overheads for the end user by way of assisting with the control and effective use of manpower on site – including members of the security team.
On new build projects, however, it’s often the case that CCTV – like many other elements of the security provision – is not considered from the outset (ie at the design stage). That can lead to problems further down the line in that the system may be under or overspecified, will be difficult to manage and can incur extra costs. Your finance director will not be happy.
In view of this, what’s the best course of action that managers should adopt? This may sound obvious, but make a concerted effort to consult a recognised specialist in the CCTV field at the earliest possible opportunity. Consider the infrastructure that will be needed to support the system, not only for the initial set-up but for any modifications/expansions that may be made at a later date.
Crucially, you need to seek out and identify any potential ‘blind spots’ that the architect has (inadvertently) designed-in, and pinpoint all lighting/cabling needs. The importance of good lighting for night-time surveillance cannot be stressed enough (and is the focus of next month’s ‘CCTV and the End User’ section in Security Management Today).
Assess your system supplier
The most important aspect for the end user centres on choosing the right CCTV company to meet your needs. In truth, there are relatively few concerns out there specialising in CCTV, and rather more who purport to offer a dedicated service but actually cover ‘all things security’. Again, it may sound obvious but different types of building will require different CCTV systems. The set-up needed for a shopping mall will be different to that for an office building, which in turn will be dissimilar to the requirements of a town centre. The message is clear: pick out a specialist whose expertise is in your chosen area.
If you can spare the time, it’s always well worth visiting other sites where working examples of systems can be viewed in situ. If you can, take a trip to the CCTV manufacturer’s own premises, and see how they operate.
Ask for some references from long-standing customers – don’t rely solely on the glossy brochures. As a security manager, you should also be able to find a route to the company’s technical director, which will be a positive bonus in the long run if your installation should fall upon troublesome times. It’s amazing how quickly your problems can be solved if you know the right people!
End users must be wary of proprietary CCTV brands and, if at all possible, never confuse cheapness with value for money. Too many clients want a top quality security installation, but either don’t have the money to pay for it or are simply unwilling to do so. It’s a truism that some suppliers will indeed offer much more than the sum of their parts.
Ensuring an accurate quotation
Making sure that your CCTV quotation is as accurate as possible is of paramount importance. To do so, it’s usually the case that the end user will have to sit down with his or her system supplier and come up with a detailed specification based on a working example. You’ll have to assess the quote, and ensure that each assembly part is priced separately. Only then will you know exactly what’s being supplied.
Don’t forget that a great many contractors will chance their arm by artificially suppressing (ie reducing) a quotation knowing full well that any margins can be made up by ‘extras’ once you’ve signed on the dotted line.
In what is a rapidly developing but still relatively immature sector of the security industry, end users must always remain on their toes in spotting sales people who are very enthusiastic – and there’s nothing wrong with that – but technically rather ignorant. They will answer in the positive to virtually any question you care to throw at them even if they’re unsure of themselves and their answer.
In a similar vein, do not set out to use solely the supplier’s own brand systems. At the end of the day, this may cause you grief in terms of the need for specialist components and/or bracketry. Not only that, its often the case that such products will be less technologically adept than those with recognised branding.
At all costs you want to avoid becoming hostage to high prices, a poor service regime and extended waiting periods if anything should go seriously wrong.
If your CCTV installation is going to do the exact job you want it to, it follows that your supplier will need a very clear understanding of how it will be used in practice. Only then can an effective system be planned out. There are many points for consideration here, one of which is that it’s likely that cameras will need to keep pace with ‘moving targets’ (whether people or vehicles, etc), so will probably have to move at varying degrees of speed.
Always be thinking about your team of CCTV monitoring staff as well. It goes without saying that each member of the team must be thoroughly trained (by way of a SITO course or an approved equivalent). Ensure that ongoing training support is available – that will help you cope with any staff changes which, as we all know, can be rather rapid when it comes to security officers.
Just as important, the completion of any CCTV installation must always be complemented by the design and implementation of relevant Codes of Practice for both its operation and maintenance.
Once again the following is perhaps an obvious point, but often end users will neglect to maintain detailed documentation on their CCTV systems. That’s a grave mistake. Such information is really useful for pre-planning when the time comes for an engineer to be called to site.
Mapping out the system
Far too many CCTV installations are product-driven when they should – particularly from the end user’s point of view – be solutions-driven. Before you can even begin to think about the system design, you need to be thinking about several variables that must receive due consideration such that your needs will be met by the system supplier. Operational requirements, site-specific information and equipment selection all fall into the mix here.
What, firstly, will the CCTV set-up actually be used for? Is it purely being installed for security reasons, or process control? Are you installing the system merely to satisfy your company’s insurance requirements?
Will the system be monitored round-the-clock, or via an alarm configuration? What are the likely recording requirements (this will depend, of course, on whether you choose an analogue or digital system)?
Thereafter, it’s time to gather site-specific details relevant to your proposed installation(s). What do the personnel do on site, what products are produced and what assets are needed to produce them? Lighting conditions in and around the building both during the day and night will frame the CCTV design, so too will the positioning of service routes, corridors and cable runs for other items in the building services mix. It’s also a wise move at this point to assess the very best vantage points for camera station monitoring.
If you’ve been diligent in your ‘site sweep’, the CCTV systems you need should then more or less select themselves. End users would do well to remember the old adage here. Forget technical prowess. Although it’s important, it’s not as important as gathering the necessary information for your installation and then planning it out in a meticulous fashion. In other words, if you fail to plan you will plan to fail. Wise words indeed.
End user needs post-installation
When your CCTV system is installed you should think of this process as the end of the beginning of your surveillance regime. While it would be true to say that quality camera systems and effective surveillance do go hand-in-hand, a planned preventative maintenance programme is an essential prerequisite if you really want to make the best of your system.
Find out all you can about your equipment supplier. Make sure that the company concerned boasts all the relevant approvals. Find out everything you can about their operating policies. Are its service engineers based near enough to your building(s) to ensure a prompt response if cameras default? If at all possible, insist that your system is covered by a senior systems engineer who will act as your permanent point of reference.
As mentioned previously, you’ll probably need to upgrade your system at some point. Given that technology is moving at such a pace, it’s often wise to go for a wholesale system change, although an upgrade is usually possible if you so desire.
