Most people are aware of CCTV surveillance as it are widely used commercially and in the public sector – for example, in town centres, shops and on public transport – and often featured in the media. CCTV is an acronym for Closed Circuit Television: "closed circuit" as in an installation of directly connected components creating a circuit which cannot be viewed by anybody outside of the circuit, unlike a terrestrial television broadcast system which can be viewed by anybody with the appropriate reception equipment.
An obvious use for CCTV is to prevent crime and malpractice but it is also a valuable business management tool offering staff protection, supporting Health & Safety initiatives, aiding investigations, proving innocence and avoiding lawsuits; other examples of its use are help with production control and other observational objectives in factories where, for example, conditions are unsuitable for human intervention. It can be used a wide range of other applications, such as traffic surveys, keeping an eye on livestock and for monitoring wildlife activity, to name but few.
The police will generally not respond to a bell only alarm, unless there is additional evidence of a crime being committed. The police will respond to a confirmed alarm that has been passed to them from an Alarm Receiving Centre. This can still be subject to their workload at the time, but their priority is far higher that with a ‘bells only’ system. The Association of Chief Police Officers (
The control panel is the main workings of the system. The main control panel will normally be sited in a concealed place such as in a cupboard or roof space.