Interviews

Big Brother probably isn’t watching you

by Mark Rowe

Most CCTV systems installed in the UK have some kind of fault which means they are worthless in the fight against crime. So claims an installer of CCTV systems. The firm says that three-quarters of security cameras that it has seen in recent months are not working at all, or have problems which mean that they fall below police requirements for the collection of evidence for use in court.

Jonathan Ratcliffe from CCTV.co.uk says: “This highlights the importance of regular maintenance of all types of CCTV camera systems, large or small. More than half of businesses are hit by crime every year, and the deterrent effect of security systems is lost if they don’t work.”

A study of 300 CCTV camera systems carried out by the company suggested:

75 per cent had a fault
30 per cent had the system time set 1hr fast or slow
25 per cent had wrong time zone settings
15 per cent had faulty cameras
2 per cent were not recording anything.

With three out of four cameras displaying a fault, none would meet UK police requirements for CCTV systems, the installer adds. CCTV.co.uk said that many systems operated by small businesses aren’t checked, and it is these systems that small businesses rely on to provide evidence in the event of criminal activity.

Ratcliffe said: “CCTV cameras are a very powerful tool in the fight against crime, but only if they’re working, properly maintained, and pointing in the right direction. Some systems we’ve come across are so poor that you can barely see what’s going on in front of the camera.”

Ratcliffe said that the economic downturn mean that owners are more likely to neglect their security systems. “With businesses tightening their budgets and crime against property expected to increase, these figures will only get worse.”

Visit www.cctv.co.uk

About the study

The study comprised existing third-party CCTV camera systems serviced by company contractors in recent months.
Further information on the study:

http://www.cctv.co.uk/three-quarters-cctv-cameras-do-not-work/

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