CCTV and Manned Guarding as Part of Your Strategy
It is important to acknowledge that CCTV systems, conforming to appropriate British Standards, can be beneficial to society as a deterrent to criminals, that they can assist in the identification of criminal acts and lead to the apprehension and prosecution of offenders. As we have all seen in the media, CCTV has played a significant role in the fight against terrorism in the UK.
CCTV has come a long way in recent years in terms of quality, with the trend towards digital and networked systems. The technology can offer a cost-effective alternative to security guards in many situations, although both routes have their benefits depending on circumstances and requirements. Most importantly, independent advice should be considered when choosing your security solution. CCTV is sometimes considered a grudge purchase often leading to a low cost system being installed without compliance to the appropriate Standards. This can be a false economy when your system fails to perform to your expectations and can prove costly in the long run when you have to upgrade or replace the CCTV system.
It should be noted that companies choosing CCTV as part of their security solution must be aware that it is normally necessary to comply with the Data Protection Act.
A significant percentage of businesses have not done this and are at risk of prosecution.
Before a CCTV surveillance camera is installed, the purpose of its intended use needs to be established and the person(s) or organisation responsible for the system will need to be documented and registered with the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner. As a result, cameras must only cover the spaces in which the cameras are intended to monitor. The owners of the system must consult with the owners of any private dwellings that may be covered or border the area that is being monitored by the equipment. Owners of the equipment must not adjust the cameras to range over any areas not covered by the CCTV scheme and the privacy of individuals must be considered at all times.
Signs must be placed within the area that is monitored in order to notify the public that they are entering a site that is under CCTV surveillance. These signs must be clearly visible and legible and include details of who is responsible for the CCTV system.
Finally, it is necessary to ensure that only authorised employees have access to the recorded information and it is they who carry responsibility for deciding if these images should be viewed by a third party. Access to CCTV recorded images must be tightly controlled and restricted to comply with the Data Protection Act. Third parties must be limited to the police, legal representatives and individuals’ whose image has been recorded, unless under they are investigation.
With CCTV becoming an increasingly popular element of the security package, why are some customers failing to specify systems to the correct standards?
For many years, the National security Inspectorate (NSI) led the way for CCTV with its NACP20/ICP20 Standard. This Standard is still recognised but a relatively new standard, BS 8418, has come to the fore and is now a requirement of the police for remotely monitored detector activated CCTV systems requiring their response.
These systems provide an alternative to continuous live monitoring. When an incident occurs within the camera’s range, a detector is activated which alerts a Remote Video Response Centre (RVRC) where an operator can monitor the situation and take appropriate action which may include alerting the police. In fact, the police will only respond to detector-activated systems, which comply with BS 8418.
BS 8418 offers the customer a high standard of protection. If you are a customer choosing to benefit from the advantages of a remotely monitored, detector activated CCTV system, make sure your installer installs your system to BS 8418 and the RVRC is compliant to the Standard otherwise you could be increasing your risk.
NSI approved companies are in a strong position to provide CCTV systems compliant with BS 8418. Insurers support BS 8418 and their influence is key to the more widespread specification of BS 8418 for CCTV.
Clearly not all customers require detector activated CCTV and in this situation NSI approved companies that comply with NACP20/ICP20 should be considered.
An NSI NACOSS Gold or Systems Silver installer that complies with the CCTV standards will be able to give you thorough advice for your circumstances. It is important though, that you first identify the objectives of the system, what you expect from it and the desired results.
Your chosen installation company will then be able to advise you on a system and its constraints. This will include ensuring that the cameras cover the correct areas, that the picture is clear enough to identify people and vehicles, including checking that there is enough light for the camera to give a clear picture, suitability of images for use as evidence and ensuring data storage conditions meet the Standards’ requirements.
Manned security
There are a number of things to consider when choosing a supplier to provide your manned security, especially to adhere to the relevant British Standards and industry specific Codes of Practice.
Compulsory licensing of security officers came into effect across England and Wales in March 2006, in a much welcomed act introduced by the security Industry Authority (SIA). Licensing cama into force in Scotland this November. There are some exclusions from licensing, such as for in-house employees, that are laid out within the Private security Industry Act 2001, which should be referred to for full details of when a license is not required.
It is important to know the background of the company that you are looking to employ, for example you may ask to see the details of the company’s structure and ownership, check that it is adequately insured and ensure that there is a satisfactory written contract that has been agreed and signed by you.
In order to ensure that a company protects your property with fully security vetted, professional and trustworthy guards that hold an appropriate license, you may wish to check that the company conducts a minimum of five years retrospective vetting of their staff, accounting for any gaps in employment and that the screening process has been adequately documented and recorded.
The training process for security staff is also an important consideration. For example, do they have a qualified trainer and are detailed training records kept? Do the security officers hold a recognised security qualification? It is also worth checking that the company is certified to ISO 9001 and that is it inspected by a body accredited by UKAS.
NSI is an independent, not-for-profit approvals body that inspects manned and electronic security companies on a regular basis to ensure they comply with the required standards demanded by customers, insurers and the Police. For further information or details of local NSI approved contractors, visit www.nsi.org.uk or call 0845 006 3003.
About the Author
Julian Stanton is Marketing Manager for NSI National Security Inspectorate. The organisation’s website can be found at http://www.nsi.org.uk for security and http://www.nsi-fire.org.uk for fire protection.
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