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CCTV guides

Guides to selecting, sizing and setting up CCTV, arranged by topic. Each is based on equipment we stock; the free calculators handle the sizing arithmetic.

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vehicle crime statistics west yorkshire

Vehicle crime in West Yorkshire: police data to August 2026Police.uk open data for West Yorkshire to August 2026, analysed by Clear Security.

vehicle crime statistics west midlands

Vehicle crime in the West Midlands: police data to August 2026Police.uk open data for the West Midlands to August 2026, analysed by Clear Security.

how much storage do i need for cctv

How Much Storage Do I Need for CCTV? UK Guide 2026Each camera needs roughly its bitrate in Mbps × 10.8 GB per day of continuous recording.

vehicle crime statistics london

Vehicle crime in London: police data to August 2026Police.uk open data for London to August 2026, analysed by Clear Security.

uk vehicle crime statistics

No suspect identified: what police data to August 2026 says about vehicle crime and driveway CCTVA data study by Clear Security using police.uk open data to August 2026.

quality cctv systems

Quality CCTV Systems UK 2026: What You're Really Paying ForThere is no single "best" CCTV system, because a quality one is simply a system whose cable, power, storage and commissioning have been sized properly for your…

cctv maintenance checklist template

CCTV Maintenance Checklist Template UK (2026 Guide)A CCTV maintenance checklist works best as a three-tier schedule: monthly remote checks, quarterly on-site checks and an annual full service, all recorded on…

dvr box

DVR Box for CCTV UK 2026: DVR vs NVR GuideKeep a DVR box if good coax is already in the walls and your cameras are analogue HD.

4k cctv camera system

4K CCTV Camera Systems: When They Pay Off in 2026A 4K CCTV camera system is worth the extra cost where you need usable detail at distance, such as wide car parks, gates and entrances, or where one camera can…

infrared vs colour night vision cctv which is better

Infrared vs Colour Night Vision CCTV: Which Is Better?Neither is better everywhere: infrared (IR) night vision is the safer choice where the area is genuinely dark or where visible light would upset neighbours…

what does ip67 mean on a security camera

What Does IP67 Mean on a Security Camera? UK Guide 2026IP67 means a security camera's enclosure is fully dust-tight (the 6) and survives temporary immersion in water up to 1m deep for 30 minutes (the 7), as defined…

home cctv systems uk

Home CCTV Systems UK 2026: Wired or Wireless?For any UK home where you can run cable, wired PoE (Power over Ethernet) is the sensible default, because one network cable carries both power and video and…

hd over coax camera

HD Over Coax Camera Systems: UK Guide for 2026Usually, yes: if your existing RG59 coax is sound and properly terminated, it can carry HD video, so you can often keep the cable and upgrade only the cameras…

what cctv system is the best

Best CCTV System 2026: How to Choose for UK Homes and ShopsThere is no single best CCTV system, only the one that fits your building, your power and cabling, your broadband and how long you need to keep footage.

cctv during christmas shopping season uk

CCTV Christmas Shopping Season 2026: UK Readiness GuideBefore Christmas, CCTV is mostly a job of proving the system you already have works: that cameras cover the tills, stockroom, back door or front door, that…

what lens size cctv camera do i need to see a face at 10 metres

CCTV Lens Size for Face Recognition at 10 Metres (2026)For a typical 4MP camera, a lens of roughly 4-6mm will cover a 10 m wide scene at identification density, which is about 250 pixels per metre on the commonly…

what does 4mp vs 8mp mean for cctv cameras

4MP vs 8MP CCTV Cameras: What the Difference Means in 2026An 8MP camera records 3840×2160 pixels, twice the 2560×1440 of a 4MP camera, but that works out at only 1.5× more detail across the width of the picture.

cctv checklist dark evenings

CCTV Checklist for Dark Evenings: UK Guide 2026Night image quality on a CCTV system comes down to three things: how much light the camera can gather, how much light you give it, and what the scene does to…

cctv camera cost for shop

CCTV Camera Cost for a Shop UK 2026: Full GuideWhat a shop pays for CCTV depends on how many cameras it needs, how far the cable has to run, how much footage it must store and who does the labour, not on…

best nvr recorder

Best NVR Recorder UK 2026: Size, Storage and PoE GuideThe best NVR recorder is the one whose channel count, total bitrate ceiling and drive bays cover your cameras and your retention period with room to spare, so…

cctv for care homes

CCTV in Care Homes 2026: UK Rules and Buying GuideYes, care homes can use CCTV, but only when it is justified, proportionate and consulted on first, so the purchase should follow that decision rather than lead…

what is a camera bracket?

What Is a Camera Bracket? UK CCTV Guide 2026A camera bracket is the arm or plate that fixes a CCTV camera to a wall, soffit, pole or corner and holds its aim steady.

best business cctv cameras

Best Business CCTV Cameras UK 2026: Types & SpecsThere is no single best business CCTV camera: the right one depends on how far it sits from the face or plate you need to capture, how much light and glare it…

gdpr cctv cameras

GDPR and CCTV Cameras: UK Buyer's Guide for 2026Yes, CCTV is covered by UK GDPR whenever it records identifiable people beyond a purely household setting, and a camera pointing at a public street, a…

anpr camera cost uk

ANPR Camera Cost UK 2026: Hardware, Install and SystemsAn ANPR camera costs from around £600-£1,200 as hardware alone, while a professionally installed single-lane commercial system starts from around £7,000…

poe vs ip camera

PoE vs IP Camera: Key Differences for UK Buyers (2026)PoE and IP aren't rivals: "IP" describes how a camera sends digital video over a network, while "PoE" describes how it's powered, so every PoE camera is an IP…

business cctv installation

Business CCTV Installation Guide UK 2026: Survey to HandoverA sound business CCTV installation is decided on the survey sheet, not on the day the cameras go up.

cctv installation cost

CCTV Installation Cost UK 2026: Prices from £400 to £2,100CCTV installation in the UK averages around £500, but MyBuilder's guide (updated 21/08/2026) shows quotes ranging from £400 to £2,100, because installers are…

what is a cctv monitor

What Is a CCTV Monitor? Display Types and Buying GuideA CCTV monitor is a display that shows live or recorded footage from a DVR, NVR or PC, forming the screen end of a closed-circuit system.

cctv for home cost

CCTV for Home Cost UK 2026: Hardware, Installation and VATA basic 4-camera wired CCTV system costs from about £800 ex VAT supplied and fitted, which is about £960 once 20% VAT is added, according to Checkatrade, and…

gdpr cctv rules uk

CCTV and UK GDPR: Rules for Buyers and InstallersYes, CCTV is covered by UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018 whenever it records identifiable people, because that footage is personal data.

anpr camera for home

ANPR Camera for Home UK: What It Reads and Costs (2026)Yes, you can run automatic number plate recognition on a home driveway, and the right camera depends on the job.

anpr camera meaning

ANPR Camera Meaning: What ANPR Stands ForANPR stands for Automatic Number Plate Recognition.

gdpr cctv policy

GDPR CCTV Policy Template UK: 2026 GuideA UK CCTV policy is a short written document that names who controls the system, why it exists, how long footage is kept, who can see it and how requests for…

cctv camera for office

CCTV Camera for Office: Best Options by Room (2026)For most offices, a fixed 4MP turret or mini bullet camera covers reception and corridor positions well, so choose by room rather than looking for one "best"…

best cctv camera for school

Best CCTV Camera for School in 2026: UK Buyer's GuideNo single camera suits a whole school, so the best choice is a vandal-resistant dome (IK10) for indoor areas and low-level walls, a turret or mini bullet for…

cctv for home

CCTV for Home UK 2026: Wired, PoE or Wireless GuideFor most UK homes, a wired, recorder-based system with three or four cameras covering the front door, back door and any side access is the most dependable…

cctv for shops

CCTV for shops: zone-by-zone setup guide 2026No single camera is the best CCTV for a shop.

ptz camera meaning

PTZ Camera Meaning: Pan Tilt Zoom CCTVPTZ stands for pan, tilt, zoom: a motorised camera that can be steered left and right, up and down, and magnified remotely, usually over a network connection.

video door entry systems for flats

Video Door Entry Systems for Flats: Wiring, Power & Cost GuideA video door entry system for flats is a wiring and power-distribution job first and a product choice second, because the right type depends on how many flats…

cctv cameras for warehouse

Warehouse CCTV Cameras: How to Pick & Place 2026A warehouse needs different cameras for different zones, not one model repeated across the site: the loading dock, perimeter and entrances, racking aisles and…

best hikvision nvr for home

Best Hikvision NVR for Home 2026There's no single best Hikvision NVR for home use, because the right one depends on how many entry points you need to cover and whether you already own…

best poe switch for cctv

Best PoE Switch for CCTV UK 2026The best PoE switch for CCTV is the one whose total PoE budget covers your cameras' maximum draw rather than their typical draw, with headroom to spare, and…

cctv guidance for schools

UK School CCTV Guidance 2026: Legal RulesSchool CCTV is lawful in the UK, but footage of identifiable pupils, staff and visitors is personal data, so the school or trust, as data controller, must run…

cctv policy for pubs

CCTV Policy for Pubs: UK Law & RequirementsNo law makes CCTV compulsory in every pub, but your premises licence may require it: under the Licensing Act 2003 the licensing authority can attach it as a…

rfid access control system

RFID Access Control System: Install & IntegrateAn RFID access control system lets people unlock a door by presenting a contactless card or fob.

hikvision nvr

Best Hikvision NVR 2026: 4, 8 & 16 ChannelThe best Hikvision NVR is the one that matches your camera count, resolution, PoE needs and whether you want AcuSense AI on the recorder.

dvr meaning

DVR Meaning in CCTV: What It Is & How It WorksA DVR, or digital video recorder, is the box in a CCTV system that takes the feeds from your cameras and records them to a hard drive so you can review footage…

cctv for car parks

CCTV for Car Parks: Coverage & Retention GuideThe lighting you actually have on the car park floor, not a camera's headline low-light claim, decides which camera will work, so choose from the light you can…

cctv for construction sites

CCTV for construction sites: wired and 4G camerasThe best CCTV for a construction site depends less on the camera than on what the site gives you: wired PoE cameras recording to an NVR suit sites with mains…

cctv signage requirements uk

CCTV Signage Requirements UK: ChecklistIf you run CCTV for a business, you must tell people they may be recorded, "usually by displaying signs" that are "clearly visible and readable", according to…

cat5e vs cat6

CAT5e vs CAT6 Cables: Speed, Distance & CCTV ComparisonFor many IP camera runs, Cat5e is enough: it is rated for up to 1 Gbps over 100 m, and the camera, switch and NVR set the link speed, not the marking on the…

best video door entry system

Best Video Door Entry Systems UK 2026The best video door entry system is the one that suits your property's cabling and how you want to use it.

video door entry system with lock release

Video Door Entry with Lock Release UKA video door entry system with lock release pairs a door station (camera and call button) with an indoor monitor or app and a relay output that releases an…

cat5e cable

Cat5e Cable for CCTV: Speed & Distance 2026Cat5e will carry an IP camera's data and PoE power over a single run, and it's rated for up to 1 Gbps at 100 MHz bandwidth under the Category 5 cable standard…

best cctv for farm

Best CCTV for Farms 2026: Livestock & EquipmentThe best CCTV for a farm is one matched to your yard's layout: how far the cameras sit from power and a network connection, and how much muck, dust or washdown…

best cctv camera comparison

Best CCTV Camera Comparison: UK 2026 GuideThere's no single "best" CCTV camera brand for the UK market — the right choice depends on whether you're specifying for a retail unit, a home, or an…

best cctv for schools

Best CCTV for Schools 2026: UK GuideThere's no single "best" CCTV camera for a school — the right setup is whichever combination of PoE cameras, NVR and access controls satisfies a…

cctv for restaurant

CCTV for Restaurants: Best Cameras & Placement 2026A restaurant needs different camera specs for each zone rather than one generic CCTV system planner: the till and bar, the kitchen, the entrance and foyer, and…

cat6 vs cat6a

CAT6 vs CAT6A for CCTV: Speed & Distance 2026CAT6 is the cheaper, thinner cable and holds its full Gigabit speed across the whole 100m channel; it's only on 10GBASE-T (10 Gigabit) links that it falls back…

best cctv camera for home

Best CCTV Camera for Home UK 2026The best home CCTV camera isn't a single model — it's whichever spec matches your vulnerability point, how permanent your install can be and what recorder it…

what do anpr cameras do

What Do ANPR Cameras Do: UK 2026An ANPR camera reads a vehicle's number plate and converts it into text within a fraction of a second, then checks that text against a stored list or external…

cctv law uk

CCTV Law UK: Compliance Guide for Home & BusinessDomestic CCTV that only ever sees your own property isn't regulated — no registration, no signage requirement, nothing to file.

best nvr cctv

Best NVR CCTV Systems 2026: PoE vs WiFiThe best NVR for a commercial CCTV install is the one whose PoE power budget, incoming bandwidth and channel count are matched to your actual camera load — not…

what is a nvr recorder

What Is an NVR Recorder: IP Camera RecordingAn NVR recorder is a network video recorder that stores and manages video already encoded by IP cameras, rather than capturing and encoding footage itself —…

business cctv systems

Business CCTV Systems UK: 2026 Cost & ROI GuideA phased business CCTV deployment typically needs to justify a per-camera installed cost somewhere in the £350–£600 range once hardware, cabling and labour are…

what is a camera kit?

What Is a CCTV Camera Kit? 2026 GuideA CCTV camera kit, in the security sense, is a pre-matched bundle sold as one system: cameras, a recorder (DVR or NVR), and the cabling or PSU needed to…

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