CCTV is a divisive subject. On the one hand, you have the benefits of security, potential crime reduction and peace of mind. On the other hand you have privacy issues and cost factors. SO what are the reasons for installing CCTV?
Navigating the issue can be difficult, so in this article, we will try and discuss a few reasons why CCTV can be beneficial for businesses.
Improves Security
This is one of the main reasons businesses will install CCTV – having CCTV is not only a useful way of keeping an eye on property, but also a deterrent for thieves.
If a business has CCTV, this would actively discourage potential crime. Making the cameras obvious, along with signage that informs people in the vicinity that CCTV is active will make a thief stop and think before targeting your property.
This is also true of vandalism – in areas with active CCTV, vandalism has been proven to be lower than areas without CCTV. Threats of violence can also be mitigated with well placed CCTV.
Peace of Mind
Having 24/7 access to CCTV does give business owners an incredible peace of mind. If you are at home worrying about your business being broken into, or a fire breaking out – being able to quickly check your CCTV to see if everything is ok is worth the price of the equipment and service.
Systems nowadays may give you the opportunity to view your CCTV system from your mobile phone or computer, anywhere in the world with just an internet connection. Some systems provide active monitoring so you can get alerted to any motion, sounds or even temperature changes. This type of monitoring would have only been available to high-end systems a few years ago, but they are much more affordable now.
CCTV can reduce costs
This one really depends on your business type, but by having a well-installed professional CCTV system, you may be able to reduce insurance premiums.
CCTV could also lower your need for active security guards during the day or overnight, reducing costs even more.
If you CCTV is to keep an eye on staff, it could also provide a deterrent for theft from employees and clocking off early.
Evidence collection
Having recorded video of someone committing a crime on your premises can be really useful evidence for any future actions. For example, identifying potential thieves, whether they are employees or not.
In the case of an accident at work, CCTV can easily hold a record of what actually happened, useful for any court case or insurance claim.
Proving an employment legal issues may also be a benefit of CCTV, for example if an employee is late everyday, having evidence to back this up can be useful for any future discussions or tribunals.
Conclusion
As you can see, CCTV has many benefits for businesses, not just the obvious. Depending on your business type, CCTV could actually reduce your costs and save you time, but at the same time, give you peace of mind.
If you would like to know more about how CCTV can help your business – get in touch with us for an informal chat.