Kajan Vivek, manager of No 1 Convenience Stores, Reading, says: “My store has a full convenience offering, including a wide range of newspapers and magazines and an off-licence section.
“"A company called Able Alarms installed CCTV inside the shop before I took over management of it, almost five years ago now. It costs £180 every quarter to maintain, so it is almost certainly an expensive option for a retailer like myself. But I would personally say that it has been well worth keeping and that it is an extremely vital part of the business. I firmly believe that it has been highly effective in deterring criminal activity.
“We would like to get funding from the local authority to help install CCTV on the outside of the shop as well, as we have encountered problems with youths hanging around there.
"Crime is of course one of the biggest problems that an independent retailer faces. Like everyone else I have met with my fair share of problems, but fortunately they have not been regular occurrences. I would like to think that I can at least partly thank the CCTV equipment I have for that.
“It’s worth mentioning that CCTV is not the only form of security measure we have in place. For example, we have had mirrors fitted so staff can see people in blind spots in the shop.”
Graham Porter, CCTV Development Manager, ADT, says: “CCTV is a proven deterrent to theft, violence and vandalism and any retailer installing it is a step ahead on tackling these issues. If staff theft is a problem you can rig the system to alarm whenever suspect transactions occur such as returns or voids.
“Store managers can also use CCTV to view the way staff are operating and identify training needs or monitor sales activity and improve merchandising. Systems providing colour images are preferable and the cameras need to be installed in the correct places, such as entrances. Areas stocking high risk items such as razor blades or batteries are also good to cover.
“Digital recorders are a fraction of the price that they used to be. A basic internal system typically costs about £1,000 to install and consists of four small static cameras. These are quite adequate. More sophisticated systems include features such as infrared vision or remote control cameras.
“If you plan to use a couple of cameras, install a four-way unit. If you want four cameras, install an eight-way unit. That way, if you realise you need more cameras, you can install them at minimal expense. If you start with the wrong system, upgrading can be costly.
“In any case, CCTV can pay for itself very quickly. If someone is stealing from the till, for example, the losses you save will cover your quarterly rental bills. Upkeep is minimal, aside from making sure camera lenses are clean and in focus and that no one has moved the camera.”
Professor Martin Gill, Director. Perpetuity Research & Consultancy International, says: "The thing I always advise retailers to do is to make the best use of the security they have. CCTV can be one of the most important parts of a retailer’s security strategy, but it can only ever be a part.
“Retailers can also make several mistakes when installing CCTV. They often think it is going to solve all their crime problems. But even if CCTV is right for your shop, there are a number of pitfalls you can fall into. For example, cameras can be poorly positioned and retailers may get advice on installation from sales staff from a particular CCTV company, rather than an independent consultant. Sometimes retailers do not make any recordings easily accessible to the police. Another common error is that they don’t regularly monitor the system to see how it is performing.
“It is important to note that it is hard for retailers to get funding for CCTV. So the starting point for any shopkeeper has to be to get a proper understanding of what their problem is so they can take cost effective measures. Drafting in an independent consultant is crucial in that regard.
“Ultimately, the simplest thing I can say is this: be clear what the problem is and only introduce measures that tackle that problem. Do not just jump to installing CCTV if there are less expensive routes you can take to dealing with an issue.”
“"A company called Able Alarms installed CCTV inside the shop before I took over management of it, almost five years ago now. It costs £180 every quarter to maintain, so it is almost certainly an expensive option for a retailer like myself. But I would personally say that it has been well worth keeping and that it is an extremely vital part of the business. I firmly believe that it has been highly effective in deterring criminal activity.
“We would like to get funding from the local authority to help install CCTV on the outside of the shop as well, as we have encountered problems with youths hanging around there.
"Crime is of course one of the biggest problems that an independent retailer faces. Like everyone else I have met with my fair share of problems, but fortunately they have not been regular occurrences. I would like to think that I can at least partly thank the CCTV equipment I have for that.
“It’s worth mentioning that CCTV is not the only form of security measure we have in place. For example, we have had mirrors fitted so staff can see people in blind spots in the shop.”
Graham Porter, CCTV Development Manager, ADT, says: “CCTV is a proven deterrent to theft, violence and vandalism and any retailer installing it is a step ahead on tackling these issues. If staff theft is a problem you can rig the system to alarm whenever suspect transactions occur such as returns or voids.
“Store managers can also use CCTV to view the way staff are operating and identify training needs or monitor sales activity and improve merchandising. Systems providing colour images are preferable and the cameras need to be installed in the correct places, such as entrances. Areas stocking high risk items such as razor blades or batteries are also good to cover.
“Digital recorders are a fraction of the price that they used to be. A basic internal system typically costs about £1,000 to install and consists of four small static cameras. These are quite adequate. More sophisticated systems include features such as infrared vision or remote control cameras.
“If you plan to use a couple of cameras, install a four-way unit. If you want four cameras, install an eight-way unit. That way, if you realise you need more cameras, you can install them at minimal expense. If you start with the wrong system, upgrading can be costly.
“In any case, CCTV can pay for itself very quickly. If someone is stealing from the till, for example, the losses you save will cover your quarterly rental bills. Upkeep is minimal, aside from making sure camera lenses are clean and in focus and that no one has moved the camera.”
Professor Martin Gill, Director. Perpetuity Research & Consultancy International, says: "The thing I always advise retailers to do is to make the best use of the security they have. CCTV can be one of the most important parts of a retailer’s security strategy, but it can only ever be a part.
“Retailers can also make several mistakes when installing CCTV. They often think it is going to solve all their crime problems. But even if CCTV is right for your shop, there are a number of pitfalls you can fall into. For example, cameras can be poorly positioned and retailers may get advice on installation from sales staff from a particular CCTV company, rather than an independent consultant. Sometimes retailers do not make any recordings easily accessible to the police. Another common error is that they don’t regularly monitor the system to see how it is performing.
“It is important to note that it is hard for retailers to get funding for CCTV. So the starting point for any shopkeeper has to be to get a proper understanding of what their problem is so they can take cost effective measures. Drafting in an independent consultant is crucial in that regard.
“Ultimately, the simplest thing I can say is this: be clear what the problem is and only introduce measures that tackle that problem. Do not just jump to installing CCTV if there are less expensive routes you can take to dealing with an issue.”
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