Home CCTV

We've all seen closed circuit television camera (CCTV) systems in public places such as shopping centres and in the street. But they're also becoming quite popular among homeowners as a crime prevention tool.

Simple CCTV surveillance systems are now fairly cheap to buy and you can install them yourself quite easily. Cameras can also be set to record what's going on outside your home while you are out, keep an eye on your car, or even view certain rooms inside your home. These can all be activated by sensors similar to those used on security lights or alarm systems or can record 'time lapse' images, taking still pictures at a set interval.

There are some issues you need to consider if installing any kind of personal CCTV system. Cameras should only be pointed at your own property - you don't want to be accused of spying on other people. The current advice is that you should not be deliberately viewing areas outside your own property's boundary unless it is unavoidable. Human Rights legislation concerning the individual's right to privacy means that passers by might complain about being 'spied' upon by your camera and appoint a solicitor to effect a civil action against you.

Users of small systems or home systems which contain less than 3 cameras, which are not remotely operated (ie. they cannot be moved left/right and zoomed from a controller away from the camera) and the information gathered is passed to no-one but the police, have no requirement to register with the UK Information Commissioner (Data Protection Act 1998), nor place signs, keep tape records, etc. although placing signage can assist as a deterrent.

Take a look around your local DIY store to see the kind of equipment currently available.

When you have decided what it is you want to view, and whether you want to record this, you should carefully consider where you are going to locate the camera. It is important to find a secure, stable fixing point that is out of easy reach of prying hands, but not too high that it is dangerous to install, alter the view or maintain.

Consider :

• Quality - fit a system which will provide images allowing for facial recognition. Do not assume the quality on the screen will be the same when played back or printed out. Also ensure the systems clock is kept up to date taking into account GMT and BST.

• Storage - the system needs to be able to store images within a secure environment while allowing authorised access to recordings. The system should also have enough space for several days of good quality pictures and allow selected images to be saved separately for review at a later date.

• Export - The system should allow replay and export of the images onto a format we can view. This would normally be a recording or still image saved onto DVD or CD provided it is of a format which can be read by our computer systems.

• Playback - when reviewing images captured the system should allow for variable speed control including frame by frame viewing.