Don't forget the maintenance!

Perhaps what is more surprising is how so many of the installed systems are neglected just a few months or even weeks after they've been 'plugged in'.

Sadly, when end user organisations decide upon which installer to employ for their surveillance system they don't always select one that's either competent or efficient at servicing and maintaining the system.

Consideration must always be given to finding a competent after-sales service from specialist CCTV providers. After all, if you were to buy an expensive motor car you'd readily think of caring for it and seeing that it's properly serviced by a competent company.

Regular maintenance is the key
Often, the client will deal with the immediate security problem on site – whatever that may be – by having a CCTV system installed, but will not have the foresight to recognise that this system must be regularly maintained and updated if usable results (ie images good enough to be shown in a Court of Law as evidence) are the desired outcome.

Alas, those 'results' are seen all-too-often on news bulletins and Crimewatch-style TV programmes. Either the quality of the captured images is too poor to be of any real value to the police, or images are not available at all.

Variation in the standards of CCTV systems prompted the Metropolitan Police's Anti-Terrorist Branch to launch an advertising campaign aimed at ensuring systems are properly set-up and maintained. Of course CCTV systems have proven particularly useful in the fight against terrorism (helping to catch the racist nail bomber David Copeland, for instance). That said, Metropolitan Police commissioner Sir John Stevens stated: "CCTV is a powerful weapon in detecting and preventing crime. It helped us catch Copeland in a matter of days. Without proper maintenance, clean lenses and good quality tapes, though, watching the captured images can be akin to looking at life through a snowstorm."

Common problems on site
We are frequently asked to assume responsibility for the maintenance of existing CCTV systems. Quite often, our engineers are appalled by what they find when they perform system 'health checks'...

A site with 16 cameras but only one video tape used again and again. Not surprising that the images recorded were of really poor quality.

On another occasion, they found a VCR with nothing connected to it. The client was changing tapes daily, but didn't realise there were no camera signals reaching the recorder!

Worn out VCRs that will not play back. A nest of flies in a camera housing. Electrical connections inside matchboxes. Unsynchronised cameras. Out of focus pictures (particularly during hours of darkness). The litany of disaster goes on and on.

The good news is that for a relatively small sum of money your system can be brought up to standard.

Tips for CCTV management
One basic piece of advice for all CCTV managers would be to review recordings on a regular basis to assess their performance. Analyse your recordings and think to yourself... "Would these produce reliable, usable evidence if and when required?" "Could an unknown person be identified from these recordings?" If the answer is "No", act now... Don't get caught out when it matters.

CCTV installations are carried out by a wide range of tradesmen, many of whom don't possess the required knowledge to survey for – and completely install – anything more than a simple one camera, one monitor system. They get by as a result of leaning on their suppliers and manufacturers for support. Enough to guarantee the necessary signature on the completion certificate.

That is only a short-term fix, though. A fix that will create problems later when true CCTV expertise is required to overcome 'stored up' problems.

A similar problem could exist with some of the larger installers, those with thousands of employees but who cannot hope to have more than a handful of true CCTV specialists. These specialists will help their engineers in the field to 'get the job done'. Attaining really good installation expertise is unlikely due to the scarcity of available experts coupled with the large number of customers in the client base.

Building partnerships
One way in which you can guard against receiving a sub-standard CCTV installation or service is to try and build a partnership with a CCTV service supplier.

Don't jump in head first with an urgent or crucial requirement and hope that the job will be done well. Obtain an assessment of the background and experience of a potential service provider.

A good, honest company would be happy to let you contact their customers for an independent reference before you 'buy'.