Training > CCTV Training

CCTV Training

This training for CCTV Operators is to ensure that they have knowledge and understanding of their role and responsibilities in the Security Industry environment, possess appropriate communication skills and have knowledge of conflict management.

NOCN level 2 Award in CCTV

The course is split into eleven modules containing the following:

Module 1: Role and Responsibilities of CCTV Operator

These responsibilities are split into four main areas and together constitute the most important roles that an operator must perform whilst on duty:

• Screen Monitoring
• Tape / Media Management
• Incident Reporting
• Maintaining Log Books

Module 2: CCTV Codes of Practice and Guidelines

It is important to understand right from the beginning what is expected from a CCTV system and how it will achieve its purpose. Ideally an operational requirement will have been established to positively identify all the requirements of the proposed CCTV system.

These points will cover such aims and objectives as:

• Helping to reduce the fear of crime
• Helping to deter crime
• Helping to detect crime and provide evidential material for court proceedings
• Assisting in the overall management of the Assignment
• Enhancing Community safety
• Assisting the local authority in its enforcement and regulatory functions within the Town Centre
• Assisting with traffic management
• Supporting civil proceedings that will help to deter crime

Module 3: CCTV Equipment and its Operations

In the most basic system the camera sees a picture, it converts this picture to signals that are passed via a cable to a monitor which then re-converts the signal and displays the picture.

During the course of a tour of duty it will be necessary for the CCTV operator to carry out functional checks of ALL the relevant equipment in order to establish that it is all working correctly.

Any faults that may be discovered MUST be reported as detailed in the Assignment Instructions.

Checks must be carried out at regular intervals, as detailed in the Assignment Instructions, on equipment such as:

• Joysticks
• Keyboards
• Cameras
• Monitors
• Recording devices
• Lighting (during the hours of darkness)

Module 4: Control Room Communication

Any information stored in the control room obtained by an operator in the course of their tour of duty is STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL and should not be disclosed to any unauthorised person.

Communication is a two-way process, which involves the transmitting, receiving and understanding of messages between people. It is important that operators learn to communicate effectively to fulfil their role.

This section looks at the different forms of communication methods that an operator uses in the course of a tour of duty. These are:

• Verbal
• Written
• Visual

Module 5: Customer Care, Equality and Diversity

CCTV operators need to identify who their customer's are and whether they are an internal or external customer. Examples are:

Internal

• Employer
• Colleagues
• Contractual employer
• Contractual employer‟s employees

External

• Visitors
• Police
• Service providers
• Delivery personal
• Emergency services – fire / ambulance
• Telephone callers

Module 6: Control Room Access Control

The control room must be regarded as a secure installation and admittance should be restricted to those requiring access for working and supervision purpose only.

Therefore, whatever means of access control is in place, it must be correctly used at all times. This may include such controls as:

• Electronic locks on access doors
• A monitor, video recorder and multiplexer not connected to the CCTV system, should be maintained in order to examine / review or copy recorded incidents in connection with access to the control room

Computers are used within the CCTV control room environment for a number or different purposes. They may be used for the recording and storage of images or purely as a "stand alone" or networked system for the recording of other information such as:

• Incident reports
• Staff booking on and off
• Check calls

Module 7: Legislation

The following paragraphs give a brief outline of what is required by CCTV control rooms to comply with the said Act.

These standards must be met if the requirements of the Act are to be complied with. These are based on the Data Protection Principles that state that data must be:

• Fairly and lawfully processed
• Processed for limited purposes and not in any manner incompatible with those purposes
• Adequate, relevant and not excessive
• Accurate
• Not kept for longer than is necessary
• Processed in accordance with the individual‟s rights
• Secure
• Not transferred to countries without adequate protection
• Guidance on good practice

Module 8: Dealing with incidents

The definition of an incident in the context of CCTV operations is "an event that is unusual in relation to the normal state of affairs."

Local crime issues will depend on each individual area that is covered by the CCTV system. Commercial areas will be liable to different crimes in comparison to areas consisting of mainly residences.

Module 9: CCTV Surveillance techniques

Occurrences monitored but ignored will reduce the value of the CCTV system. Responding effectively to he incidents will add to the deterrent benefits of the system, especially if a terrorist or criminal is testing the system.

Operators should therefore ensure that:

• Sufficient appropriate staff are available to respond to any alert. For example this would mean patrolling guards and early police notification is made particularly in a public situation.
• Incidents requiring investigation should be brought immediately to the attention of patrolling staff, management or police.
• Where criminal or terrorist activity is suspected should be brought to the attention of the police as soon as possible using the 999 emergency system or other direct line contacts.
• Suspicious events should be fully noted and recorded for future reference. All incidents should be entered into a log, which should be handed over to staff when taking over.
• Taped records of suspicious incidents should be carefully reviewed by a designated member of staff, and the police informed where appropriate.

Module 10: Fire and Emergency procedures

One of the emergencies that may occur in the operator's own environment is a fire. Operators need to understand the principles of fire and be able to deal with a situation safely and professionally.

Module 11: Health and Safety at Work

The Health and Safety at Work Act, 1974 states that:

Employers must take reasonable care to protect their employees from risk, from unforeseen injury, disease or death at work.

The purpose of the Act is to promote, stimulate and encourage high standards of occupational Health and Safety within the workplace.

By the end of the session the trainees will be able to:

• Know their roles and responsibilities as a CCTV Operator
• Know what is expected from a CCTV system and know how it will achieve its purpose
• Carry out checks to insure that all CCTV equipment is working correctly
• Be able to receive and understand communication between people and the system
• CCTV Operators will be able to identify who their customers are
• Students will have a better understanding of the meaning "access control"
• Students will have better knowledge about how to deal with incidents in the control room
• Students will have a better knowledge of Surveillance techniques
• Have knowledge of Fire and Emergency procedures
• Promote Health and Safety in the workplace.

Entry Requirements: No previous experience required.

Duration: 5 days