cctv4u Blog

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.

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.

Several external and internal factors can affect the performance of your video analytics system, so it is important make sure that special attention is paid to overcome all the constraints in order to reap the maximum benefits.

Environmental conditions: The changes in weather, lighting conditions and the presence of shadows can very much affect accurate detection when it comes to video analytics. It is therefore important to compensate for such conditions by going for appropriate CCTV equipment and filters for shadows and the varying light levels so as to get the best performance out of your video analytic system.

• Compatibility: Another thing to keep in mind is that video analytics is not a stand alone technology. So it is very much important to see to it that it is compatible with your video equipment and network that the system is standards-based

• CCTV Cameras: It is not always essential to go for the high-end cameras irrespective of the location you intend to place them in. Going for CCTV cameras that are most suitable for specific environmental conditions will not only yield the best results but also save you from unnecessary expenditure

• User friendliness: User friendliness is an equally important aspect, as underestimating the training for your personnel could significantly impact on your budget.

At CCTV4U we have a team of experts who could guide you through choosing the right kind of video analytic equipment for your security camera systems. If in need of any assistance in selecting your CCTV or video analytic systems, please feel free to contact our friendly team.

Video analytics is one of the emerging technologies in the field of CCTV surveillance. When ordinary CCTV cameras themselves created a revolution in the security industry, the introduction of video analytics gave an all together new dimension to security surveillance. Rather than just capturing and recording the images, video analytics is capable of detecting, analysing, tracking and categorising the behaviour of people as well as vehicles. When earlier officials had to rummage through infinitly useless footage before finding any relevant ones during investigations, video analytics has made the task much easier.

Another advantage of video analytics is that the system continuously monitors all the images captured by the CCTV cameras, and alerts the operators only upon finding any objects of interest. Any suspicious behaviour or anything out of the ordinary immediately alerts the operators, helping them intervene before any damage is done. This is especially helpful for health and safety applications, detection of perimeter violation, people counting and for number plate recognition, and helps immensely in cutting down the cost of monitoring in the long run.

Options are galore when it comes to buying these gadgets, but it is getting to the right choice that is often the hard part. So, if you are thinking of getting a security camera system for your property, and are contemplating the video analytic option, please feel free to go through our online catalogue. You can also contact our team of experts at CCTV4U who can guide you through the process of choosing the right CCTV equipment for your specific situation.

The days of ‘hit-and-run’ are about to come to a screeching halt. With ANPR CCTV camera network (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) in action, the roads will no longer provide safe transit to anyone trying to evade the law. The extensive ANPR network in the UK has helped in tracking down many vehicles and criminals in real time by discerning the number plates from the digital images captured.

ANPR cameras are not to be mistaken for the speed cameras or the like. These are a kind of video cameras that can read the licence plate of your vehicle, and match it with the records in a database. Nobody can now flee from a crime scene or drive around hassle-free with any outstanding car insurance bills or unpaid parking tickets, for these cameras are capable of tracking the vehicles instantly when the vehicles pass by these covert CCTV cameras.

Most of the regular CCTV cameras across the country have been converted to number plate reading enabled types over the course of the past few years. They could be waiting for the offenders in the form of the ordinary pole-mounted CCTV cameras, or as covert cameras panning from an unmarked police van or roadside posts. Besides the use by police and council authorities these cameras are even finding use for surveillance at compound entrances and for gate and barrier use by private parties and business people.

At CCTV4U we have a wide array of the latest in CCTV systems and equipments. For those who are in need of any information or help, our friendly team will be always ready to help.

Running large establishments requires immense attention to every single detail; if you do not keep your eyes wide open, a single dishonest employee is all it can take to ruin the most efficiently run business. Yet when it comes to the clever crooks who can outwit you despite the tight security systems you have employed, the only way to pin them down is catch them unawares and prosecute them with evidence.

Among the new genre of advanced CCTV cameras are the micro security cameras that can be popped in anywhere, from an air vent to a harmless looking flower vase resting idly on your table. These micro security cameras are considered the ideal equipment for such covert operations.

These miniature cameras can be hidden anywhere or in anything, from a pen to your pocket, where you think you can watch the culprit in action. Though these come in such miniscule sizes, these cameras are equipped with illuminated light inside, which enables them to capture good quality images under most conditions.

These being much less expensive than the usual CCTV cameras, and also being easy to install and use, these are now very much in demand for investigational and evidence collection purposes. Their portability and low price tag have made them accessible to even those on a low budget.

In case you are in need of further information about CCTV cameras, equipment or their installation our team of experts at CCTV4U will be glad to be of assistance to you.