Video Surveillance
July 1, 2009 by Surveillance Tips and Advice
Filed under About Surveillance
The dependability and prevalence of video surveillance cameras has increased dramatically in the past decade. Numerous home and business owners have integrated video surveillance cameras into their security systems to ensure safety, crack down on regulations, and catch criminals in the act. Video surveillance is considered covert when the cameras are hidden or aren’t identifiable. Video surveillance is largely legal in the United States, as long as it doesn’t directly infringe on a person’s fourth amendment right to privacy.
Uses of Covert Video Surveillance
“A picture is worth a thousand words”. This saying rings true in court. According to a recent study, when a jury is presented with video surveillance footage, it is twice as likely to convict as when not shown video surveillance evidence. The strategic placement of covert video surveillance cameras aid in the detection and prosecution of vandalism, theft, child abuse, elder neglect, stalking, and harassment.
Some of the more common places to use covert video surveillance are homes, casinos, police stations, nursing homes, construction sites, prisons, hospitals and retail stores.
Monitoring the activities of nannies and household help with covert video surveillance cameras is a growing trend. Due to recent advances in technology, cameras are now small enough to be hidden in many home items such as teddy bears, house plants, clocks, and wall paintings.
Video Surveillance Laws
Most video surveillance is legal in the United States. The majority of video surveillance laws concern the invasion of privacy with the use of covert video surveillance. The use of covert video surveillance is particularly controversial in areas in which a high level of personal privacy is expected, such as locker rooms, dressing rooms, bedrooms, and bathroom stalls. There are some general guidelines to follow to ensure the legality of your video surveillance system.
Covert video surveillance is illegal when audio surveillance is also taking place, and if the it is done without the consent of those being monitored and the person being monitored by the video surveillance has a reasonable expectation of privacy.
Covert video surveillance may be illegal when the video surveillance encourages an illegal activity and the subject under video surveillance has a right to counsel, as when being questioned by law authorities and the person in charge of the premises have not given permission for video surveillance.
If you opt to incorporate a covert video surveillance system into your home or business, consult with a lawyer or your local law enforcement agency to ensure your compliance with local, state, and federal video surveillance laws.
Many independent studies in the United States and United Kingdom have suggested that video surveillance acts as a powerful deterrent, stopping crimes before they happen. Studies also show strong evidence that video surveillance systems can be an extremely effective tool in detection and prosecution.
Thanks to Ralph Winn for contributing this article to our Surveillance blog:
Uses of Covert Video Surveillance
“A picture is worth a thousand words”. This saying rings true in court. According to a recent study, when a jury is presented with video surveillance footage, it is twice as likely to convict as when not shown video surveillance evidence. The strategic placement of covert video surveillance cameras aid in the detection and prosecution of vandalism, theft, child abuse, elder neglect, stalking, and harassment.
Some of the more common places to use covert video surveillance are homes, casinos, police stations, nursing homes, construction sites, prisons, hospitals and retail stores.
Monitoring the activities of nannies and household help with covert video surveillance cameras is a growing trend. Due to recent advances in technology, cameras are now small enough to be hidden in many home items such as teddy bears, house plants, clocks, and wall paintings.
Video Surveillance Laws
Most video surveillance is legal in the United States. The majority of video surveillance laws concern the invasion of privacy with the use of covert video surveillance. The use of covert video surveillance is particularly controversial in areas in which a high level of personal privacy is expected, such as locker rooms, dressing rooms, bedrooms, and bathroom stalls. There are some general guidelines to follow to ensure the legality of your video surveillance system.
Covert video surveillance is illegal when audio surveillance is also taking place, and if the it is done without the consent of those being monitored and the person being monitored by the video surveillance has a reasonable expectation of privacy.
Covert video surveillance may be illegal when the video surveillance encourages an illegal activity and the subject under video surveillance has a right to counsel, as when being questioned by law authorities and the person in charge of the premises have not given permission for video surveillance.
If you opt to incorporate a covert video surveillance system into your home or business, consult with a lawyer or your local law enforcement agency to ensure your compliance with local, state, and federal video surveillance laws.
Many independent studies in the United States and United Kingdom have suggested that video surveillance acts as a powerful deterrent, stopping crimes before they happen. Studies also show strong evidence that video surveillance systems can be an extremely effective tool in detection and prosecution.
Thanks to Ralph Winn for contributing this article to our Surveillance blog:
Where you can find out more about Video Surveillance Cameras and articles on Security Fingerprint Door Locks
Network Camera Video Surveillance for Fast Food Restaurants
June 25, 2009 by Surveillance Tips and Advice
Filed under About Surveillance
Copyright (c) 2008 Wes Fernley
Fast food restaurants provide good food for a good price in a short amount of time, the perfect meal for the busy people of today to get something to eat on the go. Unfortunately, they are also highly susceptible to crimes such as theft and vandalism. Long hours with high numbers of customers moving in and out in a short period of time and high employee turnover can all lead to a potentially inviting environment for criminals. A network camera video surveillance system can greatly improve security for a fast food restaurant.
The Benefits of a Video Surveillance System
Many fast food restaurants these days employ video surveillance systems and with good reason. Keeping track of both customers and employees gives the restaurant an excellent overview of everything happening in the restaurant at any given time. The knowledge that customers are surveyed will also give criminals food for thought when considering committing a crime. In instances where a criminal act does take place video surveillance footage can be used by investigators in tracking down and catching the perpetrators.
Video surveillance has other benefits as well. It can be used to monitor employees to ensure they are maintaining proper business practices. It can also reduce on the job theft, which unfortunately is often prevalent in the fast food industry.
Network Camera Video Surveillance
The use of network cameras in developing a video surveillance system can be very beneficial. They are small and unobtrusive, so as not to ruin the patrons’ experience while dining in. Such a video surveillance system is also easy to install, reducing the initial labor involved in implementation.
Thanks to network cameras’ built-in web server, video footage can be simply and immediately transferred over a network: either local or the Internet. This ability greatly enhances remote monitoring capabilities with little effort on your part. Any computer with network access can view the images, meaning you can be checking up on your surveillance system whether you are at the restaurant, at home or even on the road.
Use of enhanced event management software can also be a boon. A network camera video surveillance system can be designed to turn on or off based on video motion detection. It can be programmed to turn lights, appliances, etc. on or off based on the occurrence of specific events. Advanced video analytic software such as object recognition can make surveillance software aware of even minor changes in the environment which might otherwise go unnoticed, and alert you or the proper authorities.
Installing a Network Camera Video Surveillance System
The first part in installing a video surveillance system is the choosing of cameras. Even within the world of network cameras there are many options to consider, based upon your restaurants specific needs. Fast food restaurants are generally fairly small, so normally you will not need too much flexibility in your camera, single static images will generally suffice.
Placement of cameras is incredibly important for any video surveillance system. The most important place for a fast food restaurant to have a video camera setup would be at the register. This is where all the transactions take place, thus the most likely spot for any potential criminal activity to occur. A video camera placed at the entrance will also allow you to view everyone who enters and leaves the restaurant.
Two other places to put cameras are in the dining area and the kitchen area. A camera in the dining area allows you to monitor activity there, just in case something untoward should occur. A kitchen camera keeps staff under surveillance while on the job, to ensure that they are acting properly and in accord with your requirements.
Thanks to Wes Fernley for contributing this article to our Surveillance blog:
Fast food restaurants provide good food for a good price in a short amount of time, the perfect meal for the busy people of today to get something to eat on the go. Unfortunately, they are also highly susceptible to crimes such as theft and vandalism. Long hours with high numbers of customers moving in and out in a short period of time and high employee turnover can all lead to a potentially inviting environment for criminals. A network camera video surveillance system can greatly improve security for a fast food restaurant.
The Benefits of a Video Surveillance System
Many fast food restaurants these days employ video surveillance systems and with good reason. Keeping track of both customers and employees gives the restaurant an excellent overview of everything happening in the restaurant at any given time. The knowledge that customers are surveyed will also give criminals food for thought when considering committing a crime. In instances where a criminal act does take place video surveillance footage can be used by investigators in tracking down and catching the perpetrators.
Video surveillance has other benefits as well. It can be used to monitor employees to ensure they are maintaining proper business practices. It can also reduce on the job theft, which unfortunately is often prevalent in the fast food industry.
Network Camera Video Surveillance
The use of network cameras in developing a video surveillance system can be very beneficial. They are small and unobtrusive, so as not to ruin the patrons’ experience while dining in. Such a video surveillance system is also easy to install, reducing the initial labor involved in implementation.
Thanks to network cameras’ built-in web server, video footage can be simply and immediately transferred over a network: either local or the Internet. This ability greatly enhances remote monitoring capabilities with little effort on your part. Any computer with network access can view the images, meaning you can be checking up on your surveillance system whether you are at the restaurant, at home or even on the road.
Use of enhanced event management software can also be a boon. A network camera video surveillance system can be designed to turn on or off based on video motion detection. It can be programmed to turn lights, appliances, etc. on or off based on the occurrence of specific events. Advanced video analytic software such as object recognition can make surveillance software aware of even minor changes in the environment which might otherwise go unnoticed, and alert you or the proper authorities.
Installing a Network Camera Video Surveillance System
The first part in installing a video surveillance system is the choosing of cameras. Even within the world of network cameras there are many options to consider, based upon your restaurants specific needs. Fast food restaurants are generally fairly small, so normally you will not need too much flexibility in your camera, single static images will generally suffice.
Placement of cameras is incredibly important for any video surveillance system. The most important place for a fast food restaurant to have a video camera setup would be at the register. This is where all the transactions take place, thus the most likely spot for any potential criminal activity to occur. A video camera placed at the entrance will also allow you to view everyone who enters and leaves the restaurant.
Two other places to put cameras are in the dining area and the kitchen area. A camera in the dining area allows you to monitor activity there, just in case something untoward should occur. A kitchen camera keeps staff under surveillance while on the job, to ensure that they are acting properly and in accord with your requirements.
Thanks to Wes Fernley for contributing this article to our Surveillance blog:
Network Camera Store is an online store that specializes in network cameras, network camera software and accessories. For information on purchasing, supporting or learning about IP Cameras, visit http://www.NetworkCameraStore.com
What does it look like when a lawyer tries to get a surveillance tape?
May 15, 2009 by Surveillance Tips and Advice
Filed under More Surveillance Answers
Can you answer Miguel L’s question about Surveillance?:
This is for a medium length story I’m writing. In one part the character’s lawyer manages to get the surveillance footage needed, but I don’t know how to write about it. Does the lawyer do it by supbeana? What does that look like in NY?
Dvr Surveillance Software
This is for a medium length story I’m writing. In one part the character’s lawyer manages to get the surveillance footage needed, but I don’t know how to write about it. Does the lawyer do it by supbeana? What does that look like in NY?
Dvr Surveillance Software
