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So why would you use CCTV in the Home?

As the cost of CCTV equipment has dropped significantly in recent years, many homeowners are now readily looking to install security cameras, albeit for a wide variety of reasons.

So what are the main motivations for installing home surveillance cameras?

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Generally speaking, there are five main reasons for using CCTV in a residential setting:-

• As a precaution, to improve general security and safety around the property, through remote monitoring inside the home.
• To address specific issues of Anti Social Behaviour (ASB), including physical / criminal damage and harassment, often caused by Neighbours from Hell (NFH).
• To obtain evidential quality images of suspects involved in criminal activity, in or around the property.
• To provide irrefutable evidence, suitable for countering malicious accusations of ASB.
• As a low cost method of keeping an eye on children and pets.

In order to decide on how best to approach the subject of fitting CCTV, it is vitally important to first understand the nature of any potential or existing problems, and then formulate a plan on how best to address the issues.

If we consider the "issues" above, where there is no past history of problems but an individual would still like to increase their personal security, then it's relatively straightforward to install fairly low cost 'domestic' grade CCTV cameras, that will provide reasonable overviews, which can also be recorded if necessary.

Where there have been incidents of criminal damage or Anti Social Behaviour, particularly if it is thought to involve a Neighbour from Hell, then it is generally best to use hidden cameras to obtain evidential quality images of their activities. In these situations, Doktor Jon would not normally recommend fitting overt (visible) cameras, given that although it might possibly deter activity in the short term, it may displace any future incidents to areas that are not covered by the CCTV.

If there's a strong desire to try and use surveillance as a deterrent, then it's usually best to deploy hidden cameras for evidence gathering, and then supplement them with one or two high visibility 'dummy cameras' to provide the deterrent effect, without compromising the recording cameras.

On occassions, particularly with NFH disputes, a homeowner could find themselves accused of committing damage to their NFH's property, or in extreme cases assault or bodily harm against the person that is actually harassing them. In this situation, it is often fairly straightforward to set up a minimum of CCTV recording equipment, to prove conclusively that the allegations are completely baseless.

Unfortunately, without the benefit of this type of set up, we are increasingly seeing 'victims' being portrayed as the aggressors, with allegations being made to the police or local authorities, often with appalling consequences.

If used appropriately and responsibly, CCTV can offer enormous benefits for a homeowner, although as with any Operational Objective, it is vital that the correct equipment is used to address the precise requirements.

More information to consider about using CCTV in the Home >>>