Forget the blurry, jerky black-and-white pictures you’ve seen on Crimewatch—the future is digital.

The up-to-the minute equipment that ORP Surveillance installs does not rely on video tapes. Instead, using modern computer technology, recording is digital. An ORP system produces clear pictures in colour. They are recorded onto a hard drive that stores them for up to 31 days.

Slow analogue systems depending on dusty, worn-out, unreliable video tapes are now a thing of the past.

Digital images can be located fast, and printed out as evidence. Images can be played time and again without degradation. Better yet, when confronted with hard evidence, offenders are more likely to admit their guilt before their case even comes to court.

Vulnerable areas such as tills, staff entrances, rear doors and waste disposal areas can all be monitored.

Shockingly, two-thirds of CCTV prosecutions fail, and this is largely a result of inadequate, poorly installed equipment.

Video evidence from an ORP digital system is fully acceptable, and will help to achieve successful prosecutions.

CCTV has proved itself to be a powerful deterrent to crime—guarding people, property and merchandise.

A highly visible professionally installed system in operation—with cameras and monitors in full view—is convincing proof that you take security issues seriously.

It will help keep customers and staff honest.

• Shoplifting
• Robbery
• Assaults on staff
• Internal theft
• Vandalism
• Intruder monitoring

CCTV is the cost-effective answer.

Figures from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) show that in the last year, nearly 20,000 staff were subject to physical violence.

Beyond this, the threats of violence were a major concern.

Staff in smaller shops are particularly susceptible, as hiring a security guard is not affordable. And the problem is made worse, as often staff are working alone, late at night.

No wonder profitability of small stores is hit harder by crime than larger retailers.

• ‘Trivial’ theft of low priced products hurts profitability when you are making your profits in pennies, not pounds. Tagging products is expensive—and mirrors often are of more help to shoplifters than the retailer.
• And the BRC confirm that shrinkage from small retailers is, at 1.91%, one third higher than from large stores.
• And in CTNs this hits their profits by over 28%.
• For every theft detected, 46 go unnoticed.

It is reported that in areas of stores under a camera’s gaze, crime levels are reduced by over 95%.

Proof that the deterrent effect of CCTV is very potent.

Remote monitoring is available with new installations, and most existing systems can be upgraded for this feature.

From your home—You needn’t be there to know what’s happening
View images from your own home—your system can be extended to provide a link via ISDN phone lines, Broadband, or radio link, to enable you to keep an eye on things.

Minimise your risk of being attacked—if the alarm goes off at night, you can see whether there is an intruder still on your premises. 

Central monitoring
This is a cost-effective way of having your premises guarded.

Your CCTV system is connected to a Digital Video Transmitter which compresses the images and sends them over a high-speed ISDN, GSM or standard PSTN telephone lines to a guarding station. 

Pictures are received at the monitoring station and displayed on video monitors.

In the event of an alarm being activated the pictures are recorded digitally for evidence, and the operator can deliver an audio warning. This is usually enough to deter the intruder and stop the crime in its tracks. 

The guards will if necessary call the police and or yourself to your site.

Call us for a free survey and estimate.

ASDL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line)
Fast data transmission over standard copper telephone lines. Asymmetric because the line is split non-symmetrically into upstream and downstream traffic, usually the standard UK configuration is around 1 Megabits per-second downstream and 256 Kilobits per-second upstream. ADSL is a much faster and easier alternative to leased line systems, such as ISDN. 

A.G.C. (Automatic Gain Control)
An electronic circuit that tries to keep signals at a constant level. 

A.I. (Auto Iris)
An electronic circuit fitted to the iris of a lens to help compensate for large changes in light level. 

Ambient Light Level
Background or general light level of a given area. 

Analogue
A signal in which any level is represented by a directly proportional voltage. 

Auto White Balance
Feature on a colour camera whereby the camera constantly monitors the light and adjusts the colour to maintain white areas. 

Band Width
The frequency range that an electronic circuit can accept. 

B.L.C. (Back Light Compensation)
A feature of a modern CCD camera, which electronically compensates for high background lighting to give detail which would normally be silhouetted.

C.C.D. (Charged Coupled Device)
A "chip" that performs the same functions as a camera tube.

Co-Axial Cable
Any cable that has a conductor and a shield sharing the same axis.

Composite Video
The full video signal, including both video data and sync pulses.

Compression
A way of reducing the size of digital information.

D.D. (Direct Drive)
An Auto Iris lens requiring a D.C. reference from the camera rather than the traditional video reference.

Depth of Field
Area of acceptable focus of an image. The wider the aperture of the lens the narrower the depth of field.

Digital
A signal that represents level by binary numbers.

Duplex (Multiplexer)
A multiplexer with two frames stores allowing it to show multi-screen pictures while performing time multiplex recording. 

E.I. (Electronic Iris)
Automatically varies a CCD cameras shutter to mimic Auto Iris control, allowing fixed or manual iris lenses to be used.

Focal Point
The point on the axis of a lens to which parallel rays of light will cover.

I.R. (Infra Red)
A range of frequencies lower than visible red light, used for covert lighting.

ISDN (Integrated Service Digital Network)
A digital switched network used to transmit voice, data, images or video.

JPEG Joint Picture Expert Group
A popular suite of digital compression tools.

Lux
Metric measure of the light striking a surface. The light available from that surface will depend on how reflective it is.

Microwave
Radio frequencies used for transmission of video over medium to long distance.

Monochrome
Black and White. No colour.

P.A.L. (Phase Alternate Line)
Colour TV system used in the UK.

Peak White Inverter
An electronic circuit that turns any white part of a video signal over a preset level, to black. If installed in the auto iris video line it decreases the contrast of the picture bringing out detail otherwise lost in shadow.

Photocell
Automatically switches on lighting when light level falls to a preset level.

SCART
Standard European 20-pin connector used for carrying video and audio in domestic TV. Now used in some CCTV equipment.

Telemetry
A system using control code transmitter and receivers to control CCTV equipment.

Time-Lapse VCR
Video recorder that can record frames with pauses between them thereby extending the time that a standard tape will last.

Varifocal
A type of lens which enables a manual selection between telephoto and wide angle.

What are the advantages of digital recording?
Three main advantages:

• Much better quality on replay
• Very easy to find an incident (in most cases, just dial in the time and date to get instant replay). No more endless hours of searching through tapes.
• No more remembering to change the tape.

Can I have my premises monitored remotely?
Yes, by a central monitoring station (click here) or by phone line to your office or house. Over a short range, subject to survey, a microwave radio link can be used. 

Can CCTV be integrated into my existing alarm and access control system?
Yes, no problem, the three systems working together will make an extremely effective security system.

We. design integrated systems as they give the client enhanced value and a higher level of security.

Is it better to lease or buy security equipment?
For businesses there are advantages to leasing. (click here) 

Will my staff be trained how to use the system?
Yes, we provide on-site training as required with follow up sessions if needed. We will train new members of staff by arrangement. But happily, our systems are 

Does equipment need regular or constant attention by my staff to keep it running well?
Not with digital equipment—unlike old-fashioned VCR tape based systems.

We visit twice during the first year to carry out any preventative maintenance—and you are also covered by a 24-hour callout system during that period. 

I still have a tape-based system. Can I play my tapes on a domestic VCR?
Two answers really, yes, the tape will play in your VCR. But if the video was recorded through a Multiplexer then all you will see is a very fast jumble of pictures on the screen.

If the video was recorded via a video switcher then you will be able to see the pictures. 

How often should I replace tapes?
The general recommendation is for the tape to be recorded on for a maximum of 12 times. It is set at this level to reduce the risk of tape breakages or tape degradation due to mishandling or poor storage conditions. So why not save the hassle, and upgrade to a dependable digital system? 

What will it cost?
Your investment in CCTV security can start as low as £2000 for a basic system. Factors which influence cost are the size of your store, number of cameras and other requirements need to be taken into account.

Finance is available if required, and details will be supplied on request.

Is maintenance important?
After-installation service is an important part of the ORP Surveillance provision. You need to be sure that your system remains operational—although systems are highly reliable, electronic equipment of all kinds can sometimes suffer glitches, and our fast response service gives you the assurance you need.

Can I upgrade my old tape-based system?
Certainly. Assuming the cameras and wiring can be reused, we will simply install new central equipment—and present you considerable savings over a completely new installation. Talk to us—you could be enjoying the benefits of digital CCTV very soon. (click here)