Some questions to ask yourself about your CCTV cameras.

You may have noticed that your television at home is a magnet for dust. It's the same for your CCTV monitors, VCR's and cameras; have they been cleaned recently?

Have you checked that the video is replaying properly? Replay the tape for a few minutes each day to prove that it is working properly. Check that the pictures clear and in focus.

Are the cameras still looking at what you wanted them to look at?

Do the views from the cameras need to change, or do the cameras need to be moved to reflect these changes?

Would you like to be able to identify people entering your property? To do this properly the image of the person should occupy the monitor from the top of their head to just below the knee.

When did you last change the tape?
In accordance with the Data Protection Act Good Practice Guide tapes should be used 12 times only.

When did you last check all the cameras were working? Many modern systems can automatically bypass blank images, would you notice if a camera was not being displayed?

Many CCTV systems use intruder detectors to automatically display images from cameras.
Are your detectors operating properly?

Do you expect your CCTV system to work at night?
If your system has lighting, is it functioning?

System Design Guidelines

The image of a person of average height has to be at least 10% of screen height for deterrent view.

The image of a person of average height has to be at least 50% of screen height for recognition view.

The image of a person of average height has to be at least 120% of screen height for identification view.

A maximum camera view of 3 metres width is necessary to successfully read number plates.