Category Archives: CCTV Installation

Councils Have Been Turning Off CCTV Equipment to Save Money

It has been recently revealed that councils across England and Wales are turning off CCTV cameras in order to lower their operating costs, a surveillance watchdog has reported. As underlined by Tony Porter, the surveillance camera commissioner, the switching off of cameras will doubtlessly make it harder for crime to be detected and for criminals to be apprehended.

Mr Porter levelled blame at the recent austerity cuts, noting the slashed budgets had led councils to move money away from CCTV equipment in public space. This didn’t just effect the equipment itself, but meant that less money was available for staff training.

Mr Porter stated that: “There are an increasing number of examples where councils and employees are citing a lack of money as being the rationale to reduce the service or completely change its composition – and that does concern me. Most people recognise the utility of CCTV for supporting law enforcement. To degrade the capacity may have an impact on police. It may well be that they will find it increasingly difficult to acquire the images that will help them investigate crimes.”

The UK is recognised across the globe for its vast network of CCTV cameras; the country currently employs the largest number in the word. The British Security Industry Association (BSIA) estimates that, of the 4-5.9 million cameras in the country, around one in seventy are publicly owned.

Mr Porter drew attention to the need for councils to sake greater accountability for their use of the technology, warning of the potential misuses of cameras. Complaining that councils in many large towns have stopped monitoring their systems on a 24-7 basis – in order to save money rather than due to a review or public consultation – he predicted that the lessening of public space CCTV would lead to a deterioration of standards.

Crime figures have been falling in England and Wales, with communities generally being the safest they have been since the independent Crime Survey for England and Wales began in 1981, but this progress could be retarded by a decreased use of CCTV technology. Mr Porter ultimately argued that usage should be decided by elected local councillors to reflect local circumstances and the wishes of the community in general.

Of course, these revelations also underline the need for business premises to be fitted with their own independent CCTV systems, ensuring that they remain protected in the event of council owned cameras being either inactive or unmonitored.

Hikvision Remains World’s Biggest Surveillance Brand by Doubling In Size

Hikvision Digital Technology, already the world’s largest supplier of video surveillance products, has solidified its status at the top of the industry according to research conducted by IHS.

Though only established in 2001, Hikvision, which is headquartered in Hangzhou, China, now accounts for 16.3% of the global surveillance equipment market. It has grown its market share by revenue by 50% year-on-year, doubling its overall share in the past two years.

The company now leads every CCTV/surveillance equipment category – including the global network security camera market, overtaking previous leader Axis Communications with a rise from 13% to 18.9%. Hikvision is also ranked number two in the CCTV and video surveillance equipment category for the EMEA market, claiming a 9.2% share, and has begun to make a significant impact on overseas markets.

It only takes a quick look at the data provided courtesy of HIS to recognise just how efficiently the Chinese company has come to dominate each surveillance category over the past two years. In each of the following categories, Hikvision has taken the number one spot:

  • CCTV & Video Surveillance Equipment
  • Security Cameras
  • Analogue Security Cameras
  • Network Security Cameras
  • Video Encoders
  • Hardware NVR’s
  • DVR’s
  • Megapixel Network Security Cameras
  • Network Video Surveillance Equipment

Only the VMS category is not topped by Hikvision, but their influence is growing. Though still only at the number four spot, their market share has increased from 3.8% in 2013 and 5.4% in 2014 right up to 5.8% in 2015, so it seems likely that headway will continue in coming years.

As stated by Cynthia Ho, Vice President at Hikvision: “We are very pleased to see Hikvision’s rankings in CCTV and video surveillance equipment. This is an attribute to our continuous R&D innovation and investment. Importantly, we move forward with the rapidly developing market trends of IP surveillance which benefits us the great achievements in IP product segments.”

The company currently employs over 13,000, with research and development staff accounting for more than 4,000. Listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange with a market capitalisation of US $5.6 billion, their rapid takeover of the market serves to underscore the importance of quality over brand loyalty when it comes to security equipment.

As stated by Ho: “Looking forward, we will continue to seize every opportunity to meet the market need and keep investing in R&D, offering more benefits and service to our customers.”

Do You Need More Pixels?

CCTV system manufacturers and suppliers often quote a high megapixel rate as the final word in quality – but how much does that number actually matter?

The first thing to consider is the fact that security systems should be more focused on providing image usability rather than image quality. Adding more pixels simply increases resolution, something which is not often of prime concern. Colour rendition, frame rate, and aspect ratio are just as important, which brings us to the distinction between megapixel and Ultra High Definition Standard (or 4K) technology.

4K cameras must adhere to a rigorous set of criteria, ensuring:

  • An 8-megapixel resolution to let professionals achieve more pixels with a wider view.
  • A broader colour palette to better distinguish the hue of clothing, vehicles, and other objects.
  • 30 frames per second (FPS) to ensure that all crucial details are captured.
  • A 16:9 aspect ratio to provide broader coverage, or the ability to turn the ratio to corridor view (9:16).

In contrast, megapixel cameras are not bound by any such standards, so image usability often suffers. Here’s how the two technologies stack up.

Resolution

4K peaks at eight million pixels, while megapixel technology is able to scale well beyond that figure. Of course, resolution is only really required for identification, and just 80 pixels across the width of the face is enough for positive identification. Megapixel technology is only practically necessary when you need a wider angle lens to cover a broader area, but this is more of a niche situation.

Colour Fidelity

Colour rendition is tricky, but colour has vital forensic significance. 4K cameras work from a much broader palette, so the accuracy is uncanny in both real-time situations and post-incident review, especially when paired with 4K television displays. .

Frames per Second

For strong situational awareness a camera requires a high number of frames per second. A lower frame rate means missing vital forensic evidence, but 4k delivers a stunning 30 FPS. Megapixel cameras usually find their limit at a far lower range, meaning that seamless situational awareness is usually impossible.

Aspect Ratio

Wide-screen format (16:9) has revolutionised security coverage by providing a wider field of view, but there’s something else to consider. This is the ability to move the camera in order to represent a 9:16 aspect ratio. This is perfect for monitoring hallways and warehouses, and it’s another area where 4K trumps megapixel.

 

Your choice will really depend upon your own requirements, but it’s worth remembering that there’s more to consider than resolution. For more information, get in touch with us today.

CCTV Installers London with Very Latest Technology

CCTV Installers London

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CCTV Installers London For Domestic Purpose

CCTV Installers London

Well, when people think about getting any CCTV System then their first choice is to get an eye on the cameras which they are going to install. And we all know that the CCTV cameras are the important factor, whoever you are not considering or designing the perfect CCTV System for you as the successful CCTV work. They don’t think that how they should display cameras in their home or business that’s why they may need perfect CCTV Installers London, Which may help them to locate cameras perfectly in their homes or the places, where they want to treat the criminal.

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