BSIA’s Bigger Picture report underlines growing use of video surveillance for business operational purposes

Launched at IFSEC International 2022 in May, the British Security Industry Association’s (BSIA) Bigger Picture report is the latest research into the UK video surveillance market from the BSIA. The research has revealed several takeaways into the use of CCTV in the UK, including how devices are being used for so much more than security purposes.

The full report, which is available for BSIA members, highlights the significant growth in video surveillance devices as a whole since the last investigation in 2013. Cameras in the UK now number 21.1 million, compared to six million in 2013, according to the research carried out by Anekanta Consulting.

The increase has primarily taken place in the private sector (300% growth), with only a very small proportion of cameras being owned by the public sector.

Notably, while 70% of cameras are being used for standard crime prevention purposes, the research found that 25% of deployments are being utilised for other business operational purposes, with a growth in integrated solutions.

This matches with IFSEC Global’s own findings in the most recent Video Surveillance Report. The pandemic may well have accelerated this trend, with end-users searching for solutions to monitor face masks and occupancy data to reduce the spread of COVID-19, but there are regular use-cases of AI- or analytics-based software in cameras being utilised for business operational purposes.

Perhaps the most familiar use-case is that in retail stores, where surveillance cameras can be used to monitor ‘hot spots’ from footfall traffic to help make point of sale placement decisions. Meanwhile, manufacturing and construction sites have been implementing fall detection analysis to alert health and safety teams to potential hazardous areas and prevent serious accidents.

In addition, as integrated solutions have grown, surveillance devices are being used by organisations to monitor occupancy levels in specific rooms of a building, linking to an access control or lighting system to improve building efficiencies. And, as we saw in last year’s video surveillance report, there is a rise in video tech being used to improve fire safety procedures, as cameras have in-built smoke or flame detection capabilities to spot potential fire incidents and provide further coverage.

Further insight can be obtained from the Bigger Picture report, available to BSIA members.

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