Installing CCTV in a Homeless Hostel: 4 Things to Consider

If you are renovating a homeless hostel, you will want to ensure that you have a high-quality CCTV system installed in the building. Below is a guide to some of the things you need to consider with CCTV installation in a homeless hostel.

The position of the monitor

One area which is often overlooked when installing a CCTV system is the position of the monitor which will be used to view the live feed and to review recorded footage. Ideally, you want the monitor to be positioned within the staff office, away from the eyes of residents. You should never have the monitor in a reception area as it will be very easy for residents to lean over the desk to view the screen. If residents can see when you are reviewing footage and the precise incidents you are looking out for, they may use this information to evade drugs searches or to smuggle contraband into the hostel.

The position of the cameras

Once you have considered the position of the playback monitor, you should think carefully about the position of the cameras. It is important to remember that the cameras are not only there to detect drug use or the smuggling of contraband into the hostel. The CCTV is also there to protect residents and staff from harm. Therefore, it is important that you do everything you can to eliminate blind spots in which assaults could take place undetected and unseen. If you are unsure of how to identify blind spots, you should ask for help from the contractor who installs the CCTV.

The vulnerability of the cameras

Once residents are aware that there are CCTV cameras in the building, they may be tempted to sabotage them. It is, therefore, important that you take steps to assess the vulnerability of the camera system. Exposed cables could easily be damaged or cut or cameras could be turned to face the wrong way. To combat these threats, you need to install cameras which are sealed units and so have no exposed cables and which are fixed in place or built into a solid unit so they cannot be pivoted to face another direction.

The resolution of the image

Finally, you need to invest in a camera which provides the highest resolution image possible. There is little point installing CCTV if the images produced are so pixelated it is impossible to work out what is going on.

If you would like to find out more, you should contact a CCTV installation company today.