Health Business

Keeping an eye on your facilities

Pauline Norstrom, the British Security Industry Association (BSIA) CCTV Section Chairman, examines how hospitals are applying CCTV

The National CCTV Strategy has been a welcome step forward in developing a holistic approach to the specification, deployment and governance of CCTV technology in situations involving public and private space surveillance. This is particularly critical given the increasing application of CCTV - and the latest digital technology - across the UK to identify and apprehend suspects in the battle against criminality and anti-social behaviour.

Effective action
For hospitals, key areas that the National CCTV Strategy recommendations can potentially have the most impact include monitoring of accident and emergency departments where the sheer volume of people passing through can prove problematic. If there are any violent attacks on staff or patients it is important that on-site security staff using the latest digital CCTV technology can take effective action. To ensure the technology is being operated correctly, images downloaded for evidential purposes have a secure audit trail to maximise the weight such evidence can be given in court.

The recommendations in the new CCTV strategy regarding public space surveillance will, once implemented, have the potential to unlock additional benefits regarding security in a range of public environments, from town centres to hospitals. This can crucially lead to the effective reduction of crime by ensuring that CCTV is maximised for the benefit of all.

This wider use of CCTV should encourage greater public support for a surveillance technology that has already proven to have a significant impact in reducing the fear of crime. In situations where CCTV has been installed, surveys show that people tend to feel safer and happier.

Key elements
The National CCTV Strategy is the culmination of work by a joint ACPO (Association of Chief Police Officers) and Home Office team and is based around ten key themes. The issues addressed within the strategy include:

The need for standards in all aspects of CCTV
The need for clear guidelines on registration, inspection and enforcement
Training of all personnel
The police use of CCTV footage and evidence
Storage/volume/archiving/retention issues
The need for CCTV networks live and stored
Equipping, resourcing and standardisation within the Criminal Justice System
Emerging technologies/changing threats/new and changing priorities
Partnership working
Financial and resource management.

It is important that those involved in hospital security review the National CCTV Strategy and also play close attention to its implementation in the year ahead driven by the National Strategy Programme Board.

New challenges
It is vital that the right training and operational procedures are followed to maximise the potential of the latest networked CCTV solutions (video servers) that can readily distribute images across a hospital's Local Area Network or Wide Area Network. When applied correctly, the fact that such systems can be integrated into the existing computer infrastructure - foregoing the need for extensive new cabling associated with more traditional CCTV - greatly reduces the capital investment required, and essentially supports future expansion. There is also no longer a need to store and handle large numbers of tapes, which was problematic with older analogue solutions.

In operation, video servers can provide hospital security managers with rapid desktop PC access to real-time and stored images without disrupting recording. The latest IP surveillance products can even be tied-in to access control measures such as magnetic tagging, helping to secure vulnerable drug storage areas, and protect babies in maternity units from the threat of abduction. Externally, video servers can assist with coverage of exposed car park areas and building entrance and exit points.

A national strategy
The catalyst for the creation of the National CCTV Strategy was the rapid expansion of CCTV in Britain as an integral part of crime reduction. A report was also submitted by ACPO on CCTV, which highlighted a pressing need to examine existing standards, procedures, training and methods of operation to maximise the potential of the CCTV infrastructure. It was felt that this was particularly important given the rapid changes in technology such as the move from analogue to digital recording, now a pivotal role in keeping public areas - such as hospitals - safe and secure. The BSIA for its part was heavily involved in the subsequent review process.

All key stakeholders have a role to play in the effective deployment of CCTV across both the public and private sectors, and the BSIA CCTV Section has an important voice in this process through involvement in the National Strategy Programme Board. The section has also been working closely for some time with the Home Office Scientific Development Branch (HOSDB) on a number of common issues, including the New Operational Requirements for Manual and Video Analytics.

Best practice
Ultimately, the implementation of high standards is imperative to ensure the effective use of CCTV. Consequently, the BSIA has been heavily involved in developing standards and codes of practice on issues such as digital video evidence; remotely monitored, detector-activated CCTV; and privacy masking and data protection.

The BSIA CCTV Systems Handbook for installed surveillance systems is an essential tool to accompany the installation of any CCTV surveillance system and contains guidance on the management of the system. These best practice documents form the cornerstone of many proposed standards and guidelines in the UK and are also essential reading for hospital security managers.

The BSIA CCTV Section continues to work proactively as part of the National Strategy Programme Board to ensure the successful contribution of CCTV to public safety and crime prevention and detection in this country.

The British Security Industry Association is the trade association covering all aspects of the professional security industry in the UK. Its 570 members provide over 70 per cent of UK security products and services and adhere to strict quality standards.

For more information
The National CCTV Strategy document: www.crimereduction.homeoffice.gov.uk/cctv/cctv048.htm
BSIA CCTV Section: www.bsia.co.uk/cctv .
BSIA: www.bsia.co.uk , email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or telephone
0845 389 3889