CCTV: we must look at a bigger

SIR – CCTV has undoubtedly played a major role in assisting the security forces during the recent terrorist incidents in London, and has proven its value when used in conjunction with other security measures. However, as with most security tools, businesses and the public sector need to take full advantage of the new technological developments and training expertise available if they are going to maximise its efficiency.

New technological advances in CCTV include the use of advanced algorithmic systems that proactively identify unusual behaviour. Such software can identify unusual human activity – for example people walking slower or faster than the crowd, or looking up at CCTV cameras – and may also alert operators to static packages.

Though in the early stages of development, these systems are beginning to be deployed. Their advantages in terms of security monitoring and crowd control are obvious.

Improvements in technology are only half of the battle, though. CCTV operators also need to be trained to a higher and more consistent standard. New Government legislation requiring all public space CCTV operators to be trained and licensed through the Security Industry Authority (‘SIA targets Public Space Surveillance operatives in licensing drive’, News Update, SMT, August 2005, p6) will go a long way towards ensuring the consistency of high level operators working in both the private and public sectors, but the process will take time. For businesses to gain from these technological and legislative changes, they will need to adapt the ways in which they approach and implement their CCTV regimes.

Many client organisations insist on the continued use of legacy CCTV systems that do not take full advantage of the technology available, and which are not integrated into their security planning procedures. For CCTV to be fully efficient, it must be used in tandem with companies’ own security and evacuation procedures, and incorporated into their business continuity planning strategies.

Over the next 12 months, the task for chief security officers is to fully integrate their security systems using CCTV as it was intended. In other words, as one element of many and not as a stand-alone entity.