cctv4u Blog

There are many people who believe we can’t have enough CCTV cameras to ensure our safety; “if you have nothing to hide then you have nothing to fear” they will tell you. There are just as many people who are against the wide-spread use of CCTV and who believe that the use of surveillance cameras has now gone too far.

CCTV is an active weapon in public safety. Every weekend in the UK, CCTV products directs police to public disturbances or to help people in distress. They have also helped to prevent more serious crimes by monitoring vulnerable people walking alone late at night who are, unknown to them, being followed. Cases like these, where the police are deployed and potentially terrible crimes are prevented, help to highlight the use of CCTV security cameras as a wonderful tool and an effective way to protect the public.

Along with the increased amount of cameras in public places, CCTV security cameras are now being used in the work place to monitor staff. This is to enable management to record how long staff are taking for their breaks and if they are doing anything that could be considered inappropriate. This is often seen as an infringement of civil liberties, especially as there is the possibility that, depending where management place the cameras, they could abuse their power.

The use and prevalence of CCTV is an ongoing debate which will continue to rage as more and more cameras appear on our streets and in our workplaces.

CCTV security cameras are a proven deterrent and are a useful tool to combat crime. CCTV cameras ensure peace of mind as they are ever vigilant, and work equally well with, or without, human assistance. There are different types of surveillance cameras now available which can be confusing for potential buyers. Here is a brief overview of some of the options available:

Wireless CCTV equipment is easy to install and can be accessed remotely. However, some wireless systems have had their feed accessed by hackers with a laptop from as far away as 100 metres. If you plan on using a camera in the same place for more than a year, it may be better to install a wired one.

Fake security cameras are cheap and can act as a deterrent, but they cannot record anything and experienced burglars will probably ascertain their authenticity without too much difficulty.

Panning, zooming and tilting security cameras can be useful, although installing more static cameras that view the whole area continuously may be a better option. Thieves can work in pairs to beat PZT cameras; one thief gets the PZT cameras attention, leaving the other thief unobserved and free to go about his ‘business’.

Colour security cameras are more expensive but can make identification of criminals easier. Night vision cameras are highly recommended as property crimes normally happen at night. Even in complete darkness, night vision security cameras will provide a clear image.

Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) has been around for some time now; as surveillance in airports, municipal buildings, hospitals, and residences. It is also used to observe processes in places like industrial or manufacturing plants, where the environment may not be suitable for people.  In fact, everywhere that security and safety may be considered an issue, security camera systems will likely be found. Unlike human beings, CCTV cameras need no sleep and are ever-vigilant, making them a reassuring presence as well as an effective deterrent.

The increasing use of CCTV, especially in the UK, has triggered many debates about the need for security versus peoples’ right to privacy. While many feel that CCTV effectively deters crime and encourages a safer environment, others believe that private citizens being observed without their consent is an invasion of their right to privacy.

Times have changed considerably over the last 50 years, and attitudes have had to change with them. Today, British society is faced with many potential hazards, and it is natural to want to prevent them. This has given rise to an increase of surveillance in all areas, be it private property, city streets or work premises. Installing CCTV security cameras at a residence or business premises is now common practice. We work hard all our lives to create a safe, family home or build a successful business, so we want to safeguard our loved ones and belongings in the best way possible. Security camera systems are an ideal solution for dealing with such problems.

Privacy intrusion has been a major concern since the introduction of CCTV surveillance early in the 1970s. The major reason for resistance by people regarding security surveillance is the feeling of being watched constantly. However, since the security surveillance follows strict privacy guidelines and makes sure that privacy is not invaded, CCTV cameras have increased in number to the present 4.5 million across the UK.

The Government has issued strict legal guidelines and privacy policies regarding security surveillance from the streets and public places to workplaces and offices. Privacy encroachment is especially an issue in offices, where employers use covert security cameras for monitoring work progress and tape conversations amongst their employees. This is a major violation of privacy and can even lead to litigation if the employee chooses.

It is important that employers understand the fine line between monitoring and intruding and maintain a balance so as not to make the employees feel spied upon. Where the right kind of monitoring can increase productivity and make employees feel safer, intrusive monitoring can lead to just lead to the opposite. So it is essential that employers notify the employees in advance that they will be monitored and inform them where the security cameras are operating.

By implementing a surveillance system ethically, it can bring about the desired results not just as increased safety at the workplace but also as increased productivity and a better working environment. To know more about CCTV systems and surveillance, don’t hesitate to contact us at CCTV4U.

From bus stops to school premises and even school buses, security cameras have become a part of the security measures taken by the school authorities to ensure the safety of the students that thousands of parents entrust them with. Now that activities of violence and crime are not restricted to any particular kind of surroundings alone, school authorities and parents are equally at peace when such security measures are taken.

Most school buses uses multi-channel DVRs that record various views from different security cameras installed inside and outside the bus entrances. These cameras are generally equipped with audio and GPS functions as well. However, recording audio is not usually permitted as it is illegal in most countries. There are instances where school authorities have been sued for recording audio, as it is a breach of privacy and can be mistaken as a wrong disciplinary measure taken by the school.

Also the security cameras in school buses are not meant to be kept covert and the students are to be aware that the cameras are in action. However, even though the cameras are not used as a measure to induce discipline, many school authorities claim the awareness about the security cameras has helped in bringing about discipline without making the students self-conscious or uncomfortable. If implemented in the right way, security cameras in school buses can be a very successful security measure for schools.

We at CCTV4U have a wide range of security cameras and equipment fit for all kinds of surveillance.

With terrorism threats from various quarters, authorities are always on the alert to spring to action without leaving any breaches in security measures. With about 4.5 million security cameras deployed across the UK, technology has enabled the authorities to fine comb billions of video footages every day for any suspicious activity. However as it is practically impossible to manually spot any particular faces in the random images from the security camera footages, biometric technology has come as a boon for such purposes.

The ‘fish-eyed’ biometric cameras with 360-spherical lenses are capable of identifying particular faces stored in a database and following their movements. Biometric details such as face, iris, voice, fingerprints and hand geometry of people who have been entered into the database are verified against the images appearing on the camera, and authorities are alerted immediately upon finding a high-degree of match.

Some biometric cameras are even capable of emitting infra red light that is not visible to the human eye, on to people’s faces to trace the contours of their features to verify if it matches with that in the database. There are also biometric surveillance systems which use a number of security cameras to generate three dimensional images of the faces captured, and produces extremely high level of accuracy by combining two dimensional, three dimensional and fingerprint biometrics.

This technology has proved its worth as crucial sources of evidence and weapon for thwarting crime and is increasingly being employed by authorities across the world. For more information regarding the latest in CCTV systems and technology, we at CCTV4U can help.

Occasional night outs once in a while are no longer the only time when we return home late at the night. With working hours spanning beyond the 9 to 5 routine hours, scuttling forth from work and back home even late into the wee hours of night is becoming routine for a good many of us. In turn, greater is the need for more effective security measures both at home and in the office during every hour of the day.

Night vision security cameras have become a useful gadget for security surveillance for such purposes. Whilst ordinary CCTV cameras are very efficient in broad daylight, they are almost totally ineffective when it comes to capturing any useful images in low light conditions. Yet the advantage of night vision security cameras is that they capture high quality colour images during the day time and black and white pictures of the same quality in low light. Though colour security cameras are also available for night-use, the pictures are found to be of better quality in dark conditions in the black and white ones.

Wireless night vision security cameras are also available now, which are easy to install and manage. Price shouldn’t be a setback, as they come in easily affordable ranges and are an investment worth every single penny. At CCTV4U we have a wide range of the latest wireless security cameras and equipments, suitable for various uses. To know more, just browse through our online catalogue or give our team a call, and we will be happy to be of assistance.

Ignoring the blaring red light on the traffic post is found to be the major causes of crashes and accidental killings during the rush hour traffic. The red light security cameras have come as a very useful tool for thwarting the tendency of poor drivers to ignore the red sign.

The red light security cameras installed at major intersections has helped in bringing down red light running to a large extent. These security cameras automatically take the photographs of vehicles that drive past the intersection after the light turns red. Sensors embedded in the cross walks are activated when the vehicles violate the red light, and cameras mounted on the poles capture the picture of the vehicle along with the date, time and its speed.  Citations are then mailed to the driver to pay a fine or sign an affidavit indicating that they were not driving at that time.

This system, which has been extensively tried out in many parts of the world, has yielded very good results and has helped in bringing down the rate of red light runners considerably. However, there are some arguments against the system as well, as some people argue that this is leading to rear-end collisions as many drivers stop abruptly at the signals. It is argued that some authorities are using this as a money-making device.

If implemented correctly, this security system can go a long way to increase the security on the roads. To know more, our friendly team at CCTV4U are experts at dealing with queries about CCTV equipment.

With the seeming trend of increasing numbers of incidents of vandalism to school property, security systems in schools have arguably become imperative for student and school safety. However, owing to the initial cost involved and concerns regarding the intrusion into privacy, many schools are refraining from adopting the security surveillance option.

It would be beneficial for the school authorities to weigh the reasons as to how the installation of a security system could benefit them to reach the right decision. The school authorities can go through the problems and analyse what security threats the new CCTV cameras would address, and how those cameras would help in addressing those issues. Consideration also needs to be made on how the security system will be maintained and personnel allotted if the system is installed.

Once these issues are considered, it would be easier for the authorities to decide if the benefits would outweigh the costs. Moreover, as privacy issues are also concerned it should be considered if installing the cameras in the entrances, common areas and parking lots alone would serve the purposes they are aiming at.

Even though the initial costs are slightly high, many schools who have adopted CCTV surveillance claim that the CCTV systems are quite cost-effective in the long run and have been extremely beneficial in bringing down the damage to school property as well.

At CCTV 4U we ensure that the best CCTV equipment and services are made available that make the investment worth its cost, for security is one thing that no compromises ought to be made upon.

As with every technology, video analytics too comes with its constraints. When CCTV systems with video analytics clearly have several advantages over the conventional systems, there are a few factors which determine the performance of the system. Though it is sometimes said that the chances of false alarm is quite high when using video analytics, their chances of occurrence can be brought down to quite a considerable extent if other governing factors are taken care of.

Processing Rate: Higher processing rate is essential as the system would require a higher frame rate and resolution to detect small objects moving quickly.

Frame rate: Most systems require a frame rate of at least 5-8 Frames per Second (FPS). Tracking requires higher frame rates for faster moving objects, in order to reduce the chances of false alarms.

Memory: An additional 10-100 MB of memory is required when used on a PC.

The resolution of the camera and the camera angle: Video analytic security cameras require a minimum pixel size of 15* 15. Resolutions much higher or lower than that can resulting in distorted images, often leading to false conclusions. The camera angle also determines the proper segmentation etc of the images.

Choosing the right video analytics for specific CCTV systems requires extensive research and very good awareness of the right kind of equipment suitable for your specific need. It is always advisable to seek the guidance of experts in the field who can assist you in identifying the right kind of CCTV equipment. Should you need any help in choosing your video analytics or CCTV system, please feel free to get in touch with our friendly team at CCTV4U.