How many cameras in the UK?

It’s long been an argument between those that say we are watched everywhere (and that it is an invasion of privacy) and those that feel safe and secure in the knowledge that they are being watched….everywhere

CCTV cameras everywhere

But recent data has shown that actually, the number of cameras is a LOT less than the anti brigade will have you believe

4+ million cameras has been touted as the figure installed within the UK…….some have doubted that for quite some time and now it would appear they are correct…….new figures in a recent study show that the actual figure is closer to 1.8 million…….

Therefore, how can those that argue there are simply too many be treated with any seriousness when in reality, up until now, no-one actually really knew!

Another urban myth is that all cameras installed are monitored and recorded by ‘the establishment’…….again, not correct – only around 2 percent in the UK are owned by local authorities!

SecurityNewsDesk.com and CCTV Image magazine broke the story this week that there are fewer than 2 million CCTV cameras in the UK. In fact, the ACPO lead on CCTV, Graeme Gerrard, writing exclusively for CCTV Image and SecurityNewsDesk.com, put the figure at closer to 1.85 million.

The story was quickly followed up by the national press, first by Paul Lewis in The Guardian and then the Press Association, the BBC, The Daily Mail, The Mirror, The Daily Express and about 160 local newspapers.

Alex Deane from Big Brother Watch famously told an audience of CCTV specialists that the security industry would lose the argument about CCTV cameras. While you have to admire the strength of his conviction, the evidence doesn’t support it.

Apart from approval ratings of over 80 per cent in public opinion surveys, CCTV also enjoys a great deal of support from MPs who love it for the simple reason that their constituents love it.

In a debate in the House of Commons on the Protection of Freedoms Bill recently, many MPs got to their feet to state their support and approval for CCTV.

Jack Straw MP, former Home Secretary and Justice Minister, said: “In the whole of my 32 years in this House, I have never had a single representation seeking the removal of CCTV monitors. Not one. The demand is there because it makes people feel safe.”

To read more on this story, Read more here: Only 1.85 million cameras in the UK – with thanks to SecurityNewsDesk.com for the article



 

 

 

Video management systems (VMS) CCTV sotware solutions

Video management systems are a high performance CCTV recording interface that runs on enterprise standard servers and enables organizations to run medium to large scale CCTV systems using either IP or analogue CCTV cameras.

The streaming of high quality images at a high frame rate from large numbers of cameras means that CCTV systems can be expanded beyond the normal 16 cameras  that are commonplace in security systems today.

Video management systems take CCTV to a new level of performance, IP cameras are the way forward and this platform ensures that 1000s of cameras can be integrated into one all encompassing solution.

Most of the big IP camera manufacturers now have a video management software suite within their range. In order To enable analogue cameras to be integrated into the Video Management Systems (VMS), edge device encoders are used to convert analogue CCTV to IP this means that hybrid CCTV is now a common solution and an effective bridge to full IP CCTV which is inevitably the future.

For more information on some of the video management systems out there click here for more detail.

Analogue CCTV cameras, still alive and kicking

Analogue CCTV cameras have kind of received some bad press recently. We have been guided by the big manufacturers over the last year or two and have been led to believe that analogue CCTV is a dead technology. Well it seems that the good old analogue CCTV cameras and DVRs are still very much alive and kicking. Why is this? Well its really all down to price. Analogue CCTV systems have remained stubbornly cheap in comparison to IP cameras recording onto an NVR. Of course we all know the benefits of IP surveillance systems.The clearer images, the ease of installation, dual streaming and so forth. However it appears that price is currently the overall driving factor and with DVR and analogue camera solutions from the Asian market becoming ever cheaper but including more features and functionality, IP camera solutions are making little headway at present.
This is outlined when you get the likes of March networks bringing out a New DVR to replace there 4000 series with a projected life span of 5 years this takes us up to 2016!! Something I doubt they anticipated having to do some 3 or 4 years ago. Panasonic released their iPro range in anticipation of exponential growth into IP video solutions but as we see below they are still pushing analogue products and we think this will continue now for at least another year.

Panasonic Analogue CCTV cameras and DVR solutions include the following but what sort of prices would you be expecting to be paying?

INCLUDING:

WJ-HL204 250GB DVR from £450
WV-CP290 Fixed Camera from £90
WV-CP280 Camera Bundle from £140
WV-CF284 Static Dome from £90

Panasonic WJ-HL204 DVR with 250GB on board storage is a 4-channel recorder with H.264 compression for all cameras. With the ability to add 3 drives that takes the unit up 3TB it would seem to offer all the the end user needs at present at a fraction of the cost of an IP solution.

WV-CP290

So what about the analogue camera solutions , well with High sensitivity and high resolution.

WV-CP290

The new Panasonic WV-CP290 CCTV Camera combines the very best features you would expect from Panasonic at the very best price. In addition fixed dome camera are always popular and the WV-CF284 is compact in design and boasts a varifocal lens, and easy mount brackets.

So as we can see lots of analogue CCTV cameras and DVR  products out there from the big name manufacturers. One day it will be…. but analogue CCTV is not dead just yet!

EverFocus CCTV megapixel over coax solution

Megapixel over coax.

EverFocus have released the new EQH5200 2 megapixel IP camera that is using the latest HD-SDI serial digital interface to open the retro fit market place to megapixel technology. The EQH5200 megapixel camera is able to send images down existing RG 59 coaxial cable from a BNC connection therefore meaning easy retrofit installations for installers and therefore a more competitive upgrade solution to analogue CCTV cameras.

The camera has compact box design complete with day/night  functionality and an on screen menu set up to assist CCTV engineers.

Everfocus DVR

To compliment the ease of retro install EverFocus also have the EHDR08 8 channel DVR this unit can reproduce recordings boasting resolutions of 720p and comes in the form of a compact box design It uses the latest H.264 compression techniques and handle up to 8TB of hard drive recording space.The DVR can also output to a monitor using either VGA or HDMI.

Remote connectivity.

For those interested in remote connectivity  the EHDR08 has a 1 gigabit Ethernet interface this allows networking capability and allows remote viewing and management of the CCTV system allowing smart search functionality. Monitoring from mobile devices that is now really catching on can be achieved through 3GPP connection. A DVD burner allows information to be easily removed when required.

What we have all been waiting for.

In essence the package provide a simple megapixel solution over coax something that many installers have been waiting for for some time.

CCTV lighting

CCTV lighting.

Often overlooked but a crucial part of any CCTV system, lighting is key to good pictures when you really need them. CCTV cameras have improved dramatically over the last few years and dual chip technology has meant that night vision from CCTV cameras is now acceptable most of the time, but in many cases it is only when images are really needed that end-users realize that lighting on their site is not sufficient to see exactly what they need.

lighting audit.

Most installers will put a caveat in there terms and conditions stating that lighting will be assessed after an installation and that it is the customer’s responsibility to ensure lighting levels are sufficient.. However how often is this really done? This is especially true on installations carried out during summer months when no one ever sees the night time images until it’s a little late? Central stations also refuse to monitor poorly lit installations and will not be held responsible for poor quality nigh time pictures.

Lighting solutions.

It is a little publicised fact but colour cameras need white light to work at night, IR lamps only work with mono images and in the past you either chose to install mono from scratch, sacrificing colour daytime images for night time clarity. Bulky IR lamps were installed and these were expensive and unreliable. Dual chip cameras were the compromise and these allowed colour during the day and mono at night but this did not solve the fact that IR bulbs would blow for a pastime.

Raytec.

Raytec are a progressive company who have addressed this problem using advanced LED technology to give an IR output that is long range and reliable it is something that anyone who demands night time pictures of good quality must insist on.

halogen lighting.

Alternatively you can fit halogen lighting that will work on a sensor to bring lights on automatically when someone enters an area protected by the CCTV camera, again however these bulbs blow easily and cost a lot to run.

Blackhawk and Predator domes.

360 vision have developed the ultimate solution to good night time images. They have both the Blackhawk and Predator cameras that have IR lighting built in that follows the tracking of the camera and ensures that a good nighttime image is always available.

Designing a CCTV system.

So when you think about a CCTV system, think about when it is most likely to be used and think about how you will design your lighting it is crucial this side of things is not overlooked.