CCTV firms provide shopping centres with varying systems, each offering a variety of benefits, but the difficulty is in choosing the right system for your needs.

Understanding these concerns, BCSC has issued an Occasional Paper, with advice from the Home Office Scientific Development Branch, Prudential, Martin Taylor Associates and MACE, to educate and assist shopping centre and development/asset managers when purchasing new or upgrading CCTV systems.

The CCTV Users Guide for Shopping Places explores both licensing and operational requirements and can be used as a checklist in the specification of a new CCTV system. It was compiled by BCSC's Security and Safer Shopping Committee, which was set up to help shopping centre managers review security measures.

BCSC points out that there are multiple advantages to installing CCTV, apart from its use in security and crime prevention. There are commercial benefits such as regularly measuring flows and hot spots in the shopping centre's pedestrian footfall, and providing evidence of the success of particular promotions and individual retailers. Personnel-related advantages include monitoring or managing staff performance, health & safety issues and providing examples for training and development. CCTV can also help with the verification of insurance claims by employees or members of the public. There is also an equipment monitoring function, including the use of cameras to focus on individual areas or pieces of equipment immediately in the event of malfunction or alarm conditions - for example, a fire extinguisher sprinkler head or remote, normally untrafficked corridors or plant areas.

The Guide highlights a number of stages when planning the installation of a CCTV system. The checklist can form a comprehensive operational requirement that can be given to the contractor/supplier to help design a CCTV system that is fit for purpose.

Martin Taylor, chair of BCSC's Security and Safer Shopping Committee, says: "BCSC is intent on improving the levels of security and service throughout the retail industry and beyond. This guidance note should help centre managers to create a system bespoke to their centre."

Among some of the newest innovations on the market, Vista has introduced a range of long distance true day/night bullet cameras, available with either a 6mm or 12mm lens. All the cameras come with a highly robust die-cast aluminium housing which makes them ideal for perimeter, construction site, car park and driveway surveillance.

Each camera has 102 high-powered LEDs which enable the range to illuminate up to 50 metres, giving the operator excellent night-time coverage. Picture quality is further assured with the use of an infrared corrected lens, ensuring that the camera remains in focus when switching between day and night-time environments.

"The high specification features ensure that clear and sharp images can be achieved, no matter what the lighting conditions," says Mark Pritchard, Vista divisional director.

Honeywell has launched its HCU484X Ultra Wide Dynamic Camera designed for use in high-contrast environments and extreme back-lit scenes.

The camera provides highly detailed images regardless of the light level. The innovative wide dynamic range image management feature provides 102 to 120dB of range for image capture, allowing the camera to provide a complete colour exposure of a scene.

To assist with ease of installation, the camera comes with seven preset functions, making it a simple task to set it up in specific environments such as ATM machines or loading bays. At the touch of a button, users are able to dictate whether the camera focuses on a whole scene, specific aspects of it, or areas of glare and bright lighting such as number plates or brightly lit doorways and exits.

"The HCU484X camera is an extremely intuitive and effective surveillance solution for users across a wide variety of different environments," says Chris Koetsier, EMEA marketing leader for Honeywell Systems Group. "The camera is easy to install and provides high quality surveillance in areas of contrasting light where it may previously have been difficult to distinguish individuals or objects."

l The BCSC Occasional Paper is available at £15 + VAT for BCSC members and for non-members at

£25 + VAT. To order it, visit http://www.bcsc.org.uk

How will you manage?

G1 is making it easier for clients to manage the maintenance and service of their security systems through its newly introduced G1 dedicated software and management system.

The system aims to know each client's sites inside out and has an asset register on every single scheme. This means that G1 will be able to locate a camera serial number if required. Existing G1 clients are being offered a complimentary broadband service at their site which will be linked to the G1 help desk.

Contacts

BCSC: http://www.bcsc.org.uk

Vista: 0118 944 0123

Honeywell: 08448 000 235

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