Although there are more legal guidelines now than in years past, the use of covert equipment is still a valuable weapon in the installer’s armoury …

While covert security has been used to solve countless cases of theft, especially involving staff pilfering and misdemeanours, installers should remember there are now more legal implications to using the equipment.

Police and the courts require CCTV evidence to be legally obtained, with accountable procedures and images needing to be ‘fit for purpose’. Unless images are obtained legally, the whole case could collapse.

The Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA) covers the use of overt CCTV cameras for planned covert surveillance by public authorities. RIPA sets out the definitions of covert surveillance. It states the circumstances in which authority needs to be obtained and details the appropriate level within a public body that the authorisation should be given.

Although RIPA states that “normal everyday use” of open public space surveillance in a town centre is overt in nature and therefore exempt from the requirements of this Act, individuals must be made aware of CCTV through signage.

However, when overt cameras are used for specific reasons away from “normal everyday use” – such as deliberate, targeted activity of a place or individual – they are deemed to be undertaking covert surveillance, regardless of an operator’s justifications.

In order to carry out this level of sustained surveillance, the user must have the appropriate surveillance authority in place.

Employers are more specifically subject to the Employment Practices Data Protection Code which allows them to meet the requirements of the Data Protection Act.

Installers can recommend to senior management the use of covert cameras as an appropriate temporary measure to tackle a specific crime – perhaps persistent staff pilfering – preferably after the use of overt CCTV. The investigation must be subject to a set period of time, and any ancillary information gathered – possibly information on other employees – must be disregarded unless there are special circumstances, ie evidence of further criminality.

Installers can get the full specifications of the legislation on the following websites:

  • For the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act go to www.homeoffice.gov.uk and use the Quick Search facility at top of page. Surveillance is covered in Part 2 of the Act
  • For the Employment Practices Data Protection Code Part 3 Monitoring at Work go to www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk (under “What’s new” access “Codes of Practice”)

Camera is a mimic
Vista’s SmartPIR mimics a PIR, offering a number of options to suit the majority of covert surveillance requirements. However, this latest version has evolved to also offer the ability to record alarmed images onto an internal 32 or 64Mb flash memory card.

As a direct result, the camera can function as a standalone CCTV system – recording images which can later be played back on a conventional PC. Such a facility means the installer’s customer does not necessarily need to invest in a complete CCTV system. Additionally, the Vista Smart PIR camera offers both a built-in PIR sensor and motion detector which can operate on an AND/OR basis.
Reader Service No 112

Any combination
Fineplan Video Services distributes a range of covert cameras, including mono and colour medium and high resolution board cameras with audio, PIR covert cameras, domestic style smoke detector cameras, and junction box cameras, all with optional colour high resolution and 70 deg pinhole lens.
Reader Service No 113

Matching fields of view
The D-Cam 500 indoor camera from Sure Vision is designed for covert monitoring. It consists of a high quality, high sensitivity camera, PIR sensor and internal microphone, and is said to be one of the easiest internal monitoring units to install. It is part of the D-CAM Series of products that offer an affordable solution for integrated Camera/PIR & Audio sensors.

D-CAM 500 has matching fields of view of the PIR sensor and the camera, along with effective alarm verification with AGC audio. It includes a high sensitivity pinhole camera, separated relays for VTR and alarm control, Smart Timer for optimal VTR activation, matching fields of view of the PIR sensor and the camera, Effective alarm verification with AGC audio and video surveillance of protected sites, internal voltage regulation for stable picture and environmental immunity.
Reader Service No 114

Miniature surveillance
From Stortech Electronics comes a range of miniature cameras that can be hidden in clock faces, suitcases and bookshelves to provide unobtrusive monitoring with options of either colour or mono. The Pecan range of miniature cameras are the size of a 50p coin. Even at low light levels they are said to provide excellent quality. The mono units PCAM, UCAM and MCAM can operate at light sensitivities down to 0.1/ 0.2 lux. Power consumption is between 80 and 135mA, with an electronic iris that adjusts to changing light conditions.

Lens options of 2.0, 3.6, 6.8 and 12mm are available. The lightweight cameras are PCB-based and come with robust cast aluminium housings.

The company also does a range of covert cameras including clock cameras, industrial smoke detector cameras, junction box cameras, PIR cameras and domestic smoke detector cameras
Reader Service No 115

Any combination
Bosch Security Systems has a range of covert cameras disguised as PIRs, smoke detectors or mini dome housings. They can be matched with standard cameras to provide any combination of covert and overt surveillance. Features include 380 TV lines, acceptable pictures down to 0.2 lux and automatic adjustment to changing lighting conditions. The mini dome unit also includes a built-in microphone for audio monitoring.
Reader Service No 116

Hunters become the hunted

A mobile CCTV device capable of capturing event-driven digital footage in rural, remote and un-manned locations, has been launched by Hi Sec UK.

The device is designed for areas such as fields, railway lines and building sites, which are beyond the reach of traditional CCTV.

The MCCTV device is the brainchild of Hi Sec’s MD, Peter Goodenough, who believes the robust, stand-alone device directly addresses the needs of those tasked with monitoring and potentially enforcing fox hunting activities in remote rural areas.

“It’s one thing to ban or criminalise activities – be it fox hunting, vandalism, fly tipping, theft or graffiti – but the enforcement of these decisions is another matter entirely,” he said.

Images could also be used to demonstrate that no hunting with dogs had taken place.

The mobile unit can be moved to a different location whenever required, and simply secured to a post or fence. The robust, weatherproof enclosure has been designed as an unobtrusive grey, metal box, to give the unit an unremarkable appearance and ensure it is overlooked and ignored by passers-by or intruders.

A tough exterior hides video surveillance equipment, including a day/night camera. Activity within 40 metre distance triggers recording and saves it to the unit’s 20 Gbyte/6 partition DVR hard drive. The operator can view events quickly, accessing both pre- and post-event images.Images can be reviewed by connecting a PC to the unit and either Internet Explorer or the viewer software supplied. The 32 Kbyte compressed Jpeg images can be downloaded from the unit and movies created.

A number of installers and dealers who had purchased the unit intended to rent them to businesses and consumers, creating an “entirely new revenue stream”, said Goodenough.

Internal and external specifications can be tailored to suit individual requirements.
Reader Service No 111

Source

Security Installer