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One of the biggest mistakes business and homeowners make when going for dispute resolutions, theft claims, and incidents is that they don’t utilise the power of the humble CCTV.
CCTVs watch over areas like a hawk. Ideally, 24/7, 365 days a year. So, why wouldn’t you use footage as evidence when needed?
From insurance claims to everyday disputes and even theft claims, CCTV footage plays a vital role in helping you build your case and even get justice.
Read on to learn more about how CCTV can help resolve disputes and theft claims, and help in various types of incidents that can happen around your premises:
CCTV: ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL TOOLS ON YOUR SIDE
Aside from being excellent deterrents for criminals, CCTV systems provide several other benefits to their users too:
Objective Evidence
CCTV footage can be used to collect objective evidence that is completely unbiased and records events as they happen.
Since the footage is recorded with a time/date stamp, you can use it as a reference or download the footage as evidence that you can use for a wide variety of purposes.
The footage in question can be used to verify details of incidents such as theft, accidents, and even disagreements between neighbours, staff, and customers.
CCTV footage can:
- Confirm the people involved in the incident
- Establish the timeline of events during an incident
- Show an unbiased and clear view of the events that occurred
All these things make the footage extremely valuable during major and even some minor incidents in both commercial and residential spaces. If there are multiple cameras in the vicinity, then you can get multiple angles of the same incident and build an even stronger case.
Insurance Claims
Attempting insurance claims can be a nightmare if you don’t know what to do. Insurance companies tend to always lean towards gathering information and using data and facts to process claims.
This is why you need to have something as objective and concrete as CCTV footage. The footage recorded can help during insurance investigations and can confirm that a theft, accident, or damage did in fact occur around your premises.
The footage can also verify the circumstances of the claim, and it also benefits the insurance companies since CCTV footage can directly reduce fraudulent claims.
Not to mention, having CCTV footage can speed up the claim process since the insurers will be able to quickly review the evidence instead of relying on and confirming the testimony of witnesses.
Aids in Investigation
CCTV footage is a godsend for law enforcement because it enables them to quickly identify and catch perpetrators.
When theft or vandalism occurs, the footage can speed up police investigation by highlighting key players, vehicles, and the timeline of events.
This is why CCTV footage is so useful in the business space. It can help identify shoplifters or intruders, track suspicious activity around entry/exit points, and provide cold, hard evidence for prosecution.
The fact is that without video evidence, it can be much harder for authorities to pursue criminal cases.
Customer/Workplace Dispute Resolution
You never know when disagreements can occur! Whether it is in retail stores, offices, venues, public areas, or your own backyard, CCTV footage is the gold standard when it comes to gathering evidence and verifying events.
The footage is unbiased, which means it can help people resolve complaints quickly. In a business setting, the footage can be used to protect both the business and employees by providing impartial evidence to the relevant authorities.
Protect Business from Fraudulent Claims
You would be surprised by the number of false injuries and liability claims that happen in business spaces. For example, people can claim that they slipped or were injured on the premises and blame it on the business and lead the discussion towards negligence.
However, with CCTV, you can confirm whether the incident happened and if it happened exactly the way it was described and prevent fraudulent compensation claims.
Incident Documentation
CCTV records events before and after an incident, that make it an excellent tool for investigators to reconstruct what happened during the incident.
This information can be used to exonerate people, identify perpetrators, highlight the faces of people, and even highlight the behaviour of people nearby and whether their reaction is suspicious.
BEST TYPES OF CCTV SYSTEMS FOR EVIDENCE GATHERING
CCTV systems are built for surveillance, and if you don’t get the right type of system, then chances are that you will not be able to obtain useful evidence for claims, incidents, and dispute resolution.
This is why we recommend that you pick the right system for your needs.
Modern CCTV systems are available in three forms:
- Wired CCTV
- Wireless or Hybrid CCTV
- Smart CCTV
Wired CCTV
Wired CCTV systems have a relatively simple layout. These cameras are connected using a wire that runs from the camera to a central recording hub called a Digital Video Recorder (DVR) that records all the security footage.
The DVR is a system built using multiple hard drives that store the footage as configured by the user. The system can continuously save files, overwrite old footage, and clean up the drive depending on the system settings saved during the installation process.
These systems are known for their robustness and reliability. Since they are connected using a wire, they present with no video lag at all and are the gold standard for all types of surveillance activities.
The low-failure rate of these systems also makes them excellent tools for evidence gathering and investigations. The great thing about wired systems is that they are also safe from hackers and digital threats.
While you can store the footage from the DVR on a cloud server, most businesses and even residential users prefer to go with hard drives due to their robustness.
Wireless or Hybrid Systems
Wireless or IP cameras are a convenient and modern way to increase the security of any premises.
Unlike wired cameras, these systems directly store footage onto an onboard SD memory card or a cloud server. So, instead of a DVR in the middle, the footage is uploaded instantaneously to a cloud server where it can be viewed from anywhere in the world.
While the footage recorded is inherently lag-free, a common drawback of these systems is that users can experience some lag while reviewing footage. This happens due to the overall network quality.
If there is a problem with the network or if the internet speeds are not adequate, then you may experience lag. However, IP cameras are great for gathering and even sharing evidence.
With a few simple taps, you can quickly go through the footage, crop, cut, and edit it, and send it over to someone via email within minutes. On a DVR, you would first have to load up a computer, then load up the drive and access the footage manually. You would then have to painstakingly go through manual edits and then wait for the file to export.
IP cameras, in comparison, make managing footage extremely easy. This makes them very useful for law enforcement agencies and insurance companies. However, keep in mind that you should always opt for professional installation services since you will need to source compliant IP cameras.
That’s right, you can’t just get any IP camera and expect it to provide you with reliable security coverage. You will need to ensure that the IP camera has all the required features and specifications outlined by your insurance company for the best experience.
Smart CCTV Systems
Newer and modern smart CCTV systems use artificial intelligence that takes security up a notch. With AI, these cameras can accurately detect threats, reduce the chances of false alarms, and even auto-save certain events like intrusions, loud noises, and unidentified/suspicious people.
With advanced algorithms, you can quickly get detailed “event pings” on your mobile device. These pings will automatically give you a screenshot of the intruder and alert you to suspicious activity, even when you are not around the premises.
A key reason why many people go with smart CCTV systems is that they can also be integrated with other systems, like burglar alarms. This allows them to be even more useful and robust.
Since the cameras are linked to security sensors around the premises, these systems can cut down on false alarms and make evidence gathering more precise and effective.
GETTING THE MOST OUT OF YOUR CCTV SYSTEM
No matter how expensive a system you get, you will never get your money’s worth if the CCTV system is not installed by a professional.
Here are a few key strategies for maximising the installation of your CCTV system:
Never Go for DIY Projects
DIY projects are great for people who are looking for a hobby to pursue, but when it comes to security, it is better that you leave it to the people who have spent decades in the field.
People often opt for nonprofessional and low-cost installations to save money, but they can end up spending more over time due to the potential security gaps caused by these subpar installations.
Think about it, surveillance technology and equipment are already inherently expensive, so why not opt for a better and more professional route that gets you the most out of your investment? Security companies like Calder Security can provide you with a thorough security risk assessment and recommend a layout that is personalised just for your needs.
At Calder Security, we give you the most competitive prices in Yorkshire, along with your money’s worth by providing you with state-of-the-art CCTV security systems with qualified security specialist engineers, SSAIB-approved installers, and maintenance and repair services.
Installation and Positioning
Another way to guarantee crisp and reliable video footage for evidence is to optimise the position of your CCTV cameras.
CCTV systems need to be installed in a way to maximise coverage and to ensure that you capture all the important entry/exit points around the premises. Whether it’s the cash counters, lobby area, front porch, gate, or a car park, the positioning of the cameras will make a world of difference when it comes to obtaining good evidence.
Security companies can quickly help you get the most out of your system by optimising the installation of the cameras and strategically positioning them around the premises. Keep in mind that security companies use tried and tested industry-standard practices that enable them to get you maximum coverage.
These practices include installing the cameras at the correct height, ensuring the cameras are pointed at the right angle, confirming that the cameras aren’t pointed towards a light source, and reviewing the overall configuration of the system to maximise storage and footage quality.
Maintaining CCTV Systems
If you want your CCTV system to be ready at a moment’s notice to capture important evidence, then we recommend that you opt for a maintenance contract for your CCTV cameras.
Maintenance activities are crucial for any security hardware, but for CCTV, these activities are even more important because residential and commercial users depend on these systems for reviewing incidents.
Imagine that there is an incident that you want to review, but the footage you obtain is blurry, doesn’t have sound, or worse, is not available.
To avoid these problems, we recommend that you go with a maintenance contract provided by your installer. With these contracts, a technician can visit the premises and look at every camera around the premises.
Maintenance activities involve cleaning the camera lens, checking the integrity of the wire and the system itself, and ensuring that everything is running smoothly. A technician inspecting the CCTV cameras can quickly diagnose and resolve issues before they become a problem.
Even better is that even if there are no issues in the system, the technician will service the cameras and make sure that the lenses are clean. A dirty lens, with just a thin layer of dirt or debris, can cause the camera to lose focus, which can hinder the system’s ability to record evidence.
CONTACT CALDER SECURITY
Calder Security offers a comprehensive solution for CCTV cameras, for both residential and commercial properties, that are state-of-the-art and comply with UK laws and regulations.
We offer professional installation and design for every CCTV system bespoke to each property, conducting every aspect from surveys, design and specification, to installation ourselves.
We are expert SSAIB-approved security system installers and supply only high-quality CCTV equipment from trusted brands such as Hikvision, one of the world’s leading CCTV manufacturers.
Our team of professionals doesn’t just install the CCTV systems and leaves, but also provides full training on the equipment, making sure you are comfortable with it and know how to use it properly.
Our CCTV monitoring services ensure that your property is being watched over by professional monitoring staff when it is unoccupied or most vulnerable.
We use only Trusted Remote Video Receiving Centres (RVRC) and offer peace of mind that any incident detected would prompt an appropriate response.
During a maintenance service, we undertake a visual assessment of all equipment, check connections and cabling, clean the cameras, lenses and housing, assess playback and recording quality, and test remote signalling (if applicable).
We also offer CCTV maintenance contracts that include a regularly maintained system by professionals, 24-hour coverage, reduced call-out and labour charges, and a reduction in insurance premiums.
If your system fails to record properly, loses clarity of picture, experiences drop out, won’t playback, or faces any other issue, our experienced engineers can diagnose and repair any faults quickly and with minimal disruption.
Contact us here or call us on 0800 612 9799 to talk to our experts for more information on how CCTV helps resolve disputes, theft claims, and incidents.
Photo by Frederic Köberl on Unsplash