CCTV (closed circuit television) is everywhere. In the street, in the shops, in schools and hotels. With over 3.2 million CCTV cameras in the UK, it is hard to get away from them. There is a reason why CCTV is so popular – it is quite simply a great security tool.

Why is it so great? CCTVs have evolved massively over the last decade and even the most basic systems offer a sophisticated way to be on guard 24 hours a day. It is a massive deterrent for would be burglars, as they know that any wrongdoing will be caught on camera. In the unfortunate event that the burglary goes ahead, despite the cameras, then everything will be filmed, giving the police all the evidence they need to trace and charge the culprits.

There are CCTV systems in London to protect your house, flat, office, garden, factory …..the list is endless.

Crime in London has risen steadily over the last twenty years. Did you know that there are between 700,000-800,000 crimes every year in London? Protecting your home and property has never been more important.

Things to Consider When Buying and Installing CCTV Systems in London

There are quite a lot of factors to consider when choosing what type of CCTV system you want to buy:

Budget
Always the bottom line. The rapid development of CCTV system installation in London now means that you don’t have to break the bank to protect your property, possessions and loved ones

DIY systems
If you have the ability, then installing the CCTV system yourself will save you money. The installation of the system is usually the most costly and time-consuming part buying a CCTV system. If you have the ability to run a cable from the camera to the video recorder, then you should be able to save on installation costs.However most of the times the picture quality of DIY systems is basic and cannot be used in the court in case you need to.

Wired/Wireless
If you choose a wireless system, this will require a power source and batteries, which have to be replaced on a regular basis. This means that a wireless system is not always recommended for a permanent installation.A wired system is the most common, as the camera can be placed a good distance away from the monitoring and/or recording equipment. A wired system will also have less picture interference.

Type of Camera
There are commonly two different types of camera. You can choose from CMOS (complementary metal-oxide semiconductor) cameras and CCD (charge-coupled device). CMOS cameras are generally cheaper, but the images produced are not usually as sharp or clear as those from a CCD camera.

Remote Viewing
Many systems now offer remote viewing, which means that you can view what your camera is seeing either on a computer network or online, wherever you are at the time.You will need knowledge of networking and router modification to be able to remote view.

The number of cameras needed
The more cameras you require, the higher the cost. When planning your CCTV system, always plan to protect the most vulnerable areas of your property first.

Where Can I Buy a CCTV System in London?

So, now you have decided that you want to install a CCTV system, where do you go. It is important to use a reputable and reliable company as you are putting the welfare of your loved ones, possessions and property into their hands.Always ask around to see if a friend or colleague can recommend a good CCTV company or system. We all want the best home security system in London, and a personal recommendation is the ideal way to find one. Try and go and see the system in action as well.Do your research. There are many companies offering a CCTV system in London. Companies such as Guard Security Systems are well known in the security field and offer a good range of CCTV systems for you to choose from.