Police response CCTV taking off

Less than a year after its introduction, the vast majority of CCTV customers are now quoting the new BS8418 standard as mandatory, according to a leading CCTV supplier.

Vision Systems says that since the standard was introduced last year they have seen a big increase in demand for remotely monitored CCTV. Insurance companies are increasingly seeing BS8418 as a must for remotely monitored systems and are specifying it before issuing insurance. Says Jeff Kitching, Sales Manager for the ADPRO range of equipment: “The standard is definitely gaining significant momentum in the UK”

“Compared to last year, 70 per cent of our new customer enquiries are now quoting BS8418 as mandatory. Interestingly, these enquiries are coming from the full spectrum of the security market, from the installer through to the end user, their consultant and insurance company.”

The standard is the first to cover the installation and remote monitoring of detector activated CCTV and specifies best practice. Police have made it a mandatory requirement for rapid response and issue URNs in the same way as for monitored intruder alarm systems.

Fears have been expressed that it could hit the intruder alarm market which has been the traditional route for police first response. However, remote monitoring companies say that remote monitoring makes significant savings by reducing the costs of local guards.

REMOTE MONITORED CCTV AND SECURITY lighting installers have been warned to be more aware of light pollution when designing systems.

Under the new Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Bill, it is proposed to give local authorities powers to impose large fines on companies who pollute the night sky. Government and campaigners have identified the security industry as major contributor to light pollution, said Shaun Cutler, Marketing Director, Derwent. “If it becomes law... it will affect security system designers and specifiers and any remote monitoring operations which practice flooding surveillance areas with bright white light.”

Detector triggered systems could be used as opposed to continuous lighting and for CCTV, infrared lighting – invisible to the human eye – can be used.