A ‘CCTV in the Workplace’ survey of UK workers has been released by NG Bailey’s IT Services division, which installs IP CCTV.
Indi Singh Sall, Technical Director at NG Bailey’s IT Services division said: “This is a time of increased pressure for businesses following the government’s decision to cut CCTV funding. We felt it was important to gauge attitudes of workers towards CCTV in the workplace in order to help organisations plan for the future.”
While some press reports question the necessity of CCTV, the survey found that over 60 per cent of workers would feel more comfortable at work if they knew that there was an effective security system in place. This desire for effective CCTV security was borne out by the survey which found that three out of every five employees fear theft, physical attack and unauthorised intrusion at work. A majority, 68 per cent of staff feel that their current workplace security system could be improved or is inadequate.
Robert Schwier, estate manager at The Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn, said: “Like many of the organisations in the ‘CCTV in the Workplace’ survey, our legacy CCTV system had focused on combatting theft and protecting our historic, listed buildings. However, the decision to move to an IP-based CCTV system enabled us to install a future-proofed network that can also support upgrades to other building systems, dramatically reducing the impact of future installations and enabling our systems to work together intelligently, in ways that haven’t been possible before.”
The challenge
Businesses who rely on the government’s CCTV system now face a tough decision, the engineering firm suggests. They can either buy and maintain their CCTV system, partner with businesses in their area to create a security network or use an outsourced CCTV network provider. Whatever they decide, as well as having to find the funding, they may also need to acquire the skills to procure, install and maintain their systems. And for those organisations that choose not to replace or upgrade CCTV systems, a rise in insurance costs must surely follow.
As NG Bailey points out, many firms are still reliant on outdated analogue systems which are fast becoming redundant. This issue was confirmed by the research, with 79 per cent of employees wanting their security system to help their company run more efficiently. In addition, 82 per cent felt sure that their CCTV system could help their company save money.
The future of CCTV is now
While the ‘CCTV in the Workplace’ survey uncovered some issues around safety and security, the new generation of IP-based CCTV solutions is moving beyond security as the sole purpose of operation, the installer says.
Britain’s CCTV is evolving, from standalone analogue systems to those that are managed digitally, via an organisation’s IT network. CCTV can now integrate with the other systems that share the network. Businesses can use swipe card access control and site-wide floodlighting, creating a centralised, co-ordinated and automated system that increases both the safety of personnel and the security of a site’s assets. As a result, businesses are seeing some serious benefits.
Indi Singh Sall added: “The fact that companies are being forced to extend their own systems in response to the cutbacks in public sector CCTV may turn out to be a blessing in disguise. Not only will these businesses be able to reassure a concerned British workforce, but many will find that their new networked systems will serve their businesses in ways they had not previously considered. Their systems can be used to collect useful data about the natural flow of people throughout an area or a building, for example, or automatically detect disturbances or unusual group behaviour, enabling them to respond faster to potential incidents. CCTV is no longer a single-use ‘grudge purchase’, it is a Swiss Army knife of organisational potential; it can offer a positive return on investment.”
Online cityscape
NG Bailey has created Smarter Security, an online cityscape which enables visitors to explore the variety of applications that the technology can be used for. Visit www.smarter-security.co.uk.
