Crime reduction 

Surveillance and CCTV

Good surveillance can detect intruders, ensure staff and visitor safety and allow emergency services vehicles to be seen early.

Businesses often build tall barriers to keep potential criminals out and make valuables harder to see from the outside. However, those barriers could allow intruders to carry out their activities and escape without being seen.

The area around the outside of your premises should offer good surveillance. This can be done by having:

• People on-site, passing by or in nearby buildings (natural surveillance).
• Security patrols or electronic surveillance, such as CCTV systems (formal surveillance).

Natural surveillance

• Make sure that you can see and be seen at all times.
• Keep window advertising below waist height or above head height. This will allow you to spot anyone acting suspiciously. People outside can see if anything is wrong inside the building.
• Don’t block your line of vision with high-shelving units or displays.
• If your business generates a lot of rubbish (cartons, boxes), don’t let it pile high enough to provide cover for an intruder.

CCTV systems

All CCTV systems (both internal and external) must be registered and comply with the requirements of the Data Protection Act 1998. For guidelines and advice for CCTV users, visit the website of the Information Commissioner’s Office (opens new window).