Pages for Local Authorities
What part can CCTV play in keeping staff and pupils safe?
Creating a deterrence factor
A comprehensive CCTV solution should have two key focuses:
- To create the maximum perceived risk in the mind of the potential wrong-doer.
- To be able to capture and archive any incidents should they still take place, with sufficient image quality to be able to identify, discipline and/or prosecute with confidence.
The key here is the level of perceived risk that the CCTV system creates, as it is far preferable to deter than to have to identify, catch and potentially prosecute. The most rapidly increasing trend in this area is that of false allegation, to create a perceived risk in this scenario the CCTV system must have audio.
Incumbent CCTV systems
A dilemma faced by many schools today is that their incumbent CCTV systems are only recording at between 3 - 5 frames per second (giving that very staggered affect when reviewed), these systems rarely have audio, and the camera locations are generally only covering the obvious areas. For these reasons today's potential wrong-doers (from inside and outside the gates) are less deterred by traditional CCTV than they were historically. In essence, they have simply learnt the limitations of the technology and thus have a far reduced perception of risk when trying to get round it.
New technology
Due to a combination of market demand and new advances in technology, the Education Market is now being offered solutions with real-time (25 frames per second) recording and full audio.
Traditional CCTV pictures only told you half the story, real-time footage with sound now completes the picture. Knowing that whatever you do and say is being recorded in real-time creates a serious degree of perceived risk - it is thus no surprise that many schools are now taking the real-time with audio path. Obviously audio is not applicable in all school locations such as open exterior areas.
If your Local Authority is considering sourcing CCTV suppliers what things should you look out for and what questions do you need to ask? Please click here.
