Don't install CCTV.....

.......until you read this.

The number of times I have heard senior managers in many organisations shout 'we need cameras and I want them everywhere now'. Sound familiar? This normally happens after an incident and panic sets in and many times I have advised to have the CCTV system removed. The main reason is that the cameras are in the wrong place, wrong specification, ineffective recording and not being managed.

Firstly, you need to plan ahead to ensure that you have adequate CCTV coverage in the first instance - why wait until something goes wrong? But before charging out to get cameras for your business do you really know what you want or need and consider the following:-

• What is the purpose - i.e. observe stock, tills or monitor the building etc.
• What is the specification
• Indoor and outdoor requirements
• Recording facilities
• Remote viewing
• Maintenance contract
• Use a security consultant to advise

These are just some of the considerations.

But more importantly, how will the system be managed (live monitoring in real time requires additional staff), who will manage the system and the most critical aspect for any physical security is effective procedures. For example, times for monitoring, secure area for the system, who has the keys to the area (no point that all staff should have access for obvious reasons), Data Protection compliance, recording documentation for review of recordings etc. etc.

Physical security is not normally the problem when things wrong, it is the human element with lack of procedures that causes the problem. Imagine a premises alarm but all staff have the activation code, there is no staff available to cover the key holder call out - it basically makes the alarm useless. In addition, how do you monitor alarm deactivation at unusual times such as the early hours of the night - do you have procedures in place for the alarm receiving centre to notify you. If not, how will you know if staff are turning up, deactivating the alarm to steal stock and cash? The CCTV will be useless as there will be no reason to conduct a review of the CCTV during these times as there is no indication that there is a problem.

If you have no procedures in place your physical security hardware such as CCTV and alarms become redundant and do not provide much security. Think about it before you spend money and it all goes wrong!