cctv4u Blog

The right CCTV equipment can be hugely beneficial to businesses and homes alike. It can provide safety, security and a great way to monitor surroundings, but if you really want the best results you need to know how to make the most out of your equipment.

To do this, it’s essential you find the right products. Quality is of paramount importance as you don’t want your system to let you down, so make sure you go for the best products possible from a reliable outlet so you can be confident in your choice. It’s also a good idea to let the professionals install your equipment for you if you want the best results, so always look for a company that can offer CCTV installation.

You also need to remember the positioning of your wireless security cameras, as it’s pointless having them there if they’re not going to pick up any activity. They should be angled just right to capture the movements of anyone going into and out of your home or business, and make sure to cover any high traffic or risk areas to make sure nothing can happen without being seen.

These are just a few ways you can get the most out of your CCTV equipment, and if you bear these points in mind you’ll have nothing to worry about. Make sure to come to us here at CCTV4U for the best equipment and trust us to install it perfectly to give you the security you need.

A lot of people don’t see the reason for using CCTV, but these are probably people who have never suffered from any form of crime or anti-social activity before. If you need a bit of convincing as to why it’s necessary, here are just a few reasons for using CCTV.

• It can be used for crime prevention to create a much safer working environment. If you run a business, particularly a shop, you could become a target for thieves and criminals. But, having CCTV monitoring devices in place will act as a great deterrent and you’ll be able to work in confidence.
• Any footage can be used as evidence. If you’re unlucky enough to suffer from criminal activity, the footage gained by cameras can go a long way in helping to find the culprit and subsequently getting them convicted.
• It gives you added security in your home. There’s nothing worse than not feeling safe in your own home, and if you’ve been the target of burglary or anti-social behaviour you could benefit from a security camera system. By having CCTV in place you’re bound to feel safer, knowing that anyone will be deterred from doing anything they shouldn’t.
• It can help with neighbour disputes. A similar point to the above, but recorded evidence can be invaluable in helping to resolve any disputes with an unruly neighbour.

These are just a few reasons to use CCTV in your home or business, and that’s not even touching on the benefits of having security cameras elsewhere in society. Above all it can be used for safety and security, and would be well worth considering.

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.

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.

Exposure to adverse weather conditions and moisture, lack of proper power supply and vandalism are some of the major problems in installing security surveillance cameras for monitoring the activities in isolated properties in the countryside. As regular patrolling is difficult in the remote isolated areas, such properties are often made use of by criminals for their activities.

However, when it comes to installing a CCTV system in rural properties, it is important to bear a few points in mind:

•    Power: Direct power supply could be a big problem in such remote areas. It is best to go for security cameras with SLA batteries with long battery life, and supplement if possible, with solar panels. If you are picturing the bulky conspicuous panels, you are mistaken! There are now special solar panels that can be camouflaged on tree trunks and plants that can be used especially in such conditions.

•    Moisture: Exposure to moisture is inevitable when your cameras are out there in the open. Though most covert cameras that are available nowadays are weather- proof and shock-proof, make sure you put a bag of desiccant to absorb any moisture that sticks when you hide your cameras.

•    Vandal-proof: Even though most cameras are vandal-proof, always pay attention to keep the recorders away from security cameras (wireless), to prevent the recorded data from being tampered, in case the camera is spotted

Now if you think you need any further information regarding CCTV cameras or equipment, we are here at CCTV 4U to help you.

Many a time, it happens that you know there is dishonesty going on and you know for sure who is involved, but you can’t point your finger at the person because of a lack of concrete evidence.

Obviously, the next thing you could do is make sure you keep an eye on the person directly or have security cameras installed to keep track of his or her activities continually. Though most of the time this would be enough to deter the person, the downside is if you are sure that the person is involved in dishonest activity and are just looking for incriminating evidence, placing security cameras with their knowledge could end up by putting them on their guard.

When they know they are being watched, they would naturally play safe for a while and could come up with some other plan safely out of sight of the watching eye of the security cameras. Under such circumstances, the wisest option to catch the person red handed would be to go for covert CCTV security cameras. By engaging in covert monitoring you might just be able to catch the perpetrator unaware right in the act!

If you have caught wind of some dubious business going on in your office or business, covert CCTV security cameras are one option to consider. To know more about the practicalities of installing covert cameras or other effective CCTV systems, please don’t hesitate to contact us at CCTV 4U.