Good town centre CCTV starts with where the cameras go, not how many there are. We have found that a well-placed camera on the right lamp column does more than two in the wrong place. So design is the first thing we do, and it is free.

1) What we look at

• The high street, market square, town centre entrances and car parks – the places where things actually happen.
• Where people gather in the evening: pubs, takeaways, bus stops, seating areas.
• Existing street lighting columns and buildings that could carry a camera or a wireless link.
• Where the footage needs to be seen – council office, police station, a control room or a phone.

2) How it works

We walk the town with you or your officer, usually in an hour or two. We then produce a proposed camera plan showing each location, the type of camera suggested for it (fixed, pan-tilt-zoom, long-range or number-plate) and why. The plan comes with indicative costs so you know early whether it is realistic before it goes anywhere near a committee.

3) Written for councillors

Everything is written so that someone who was not on the site walk can pick it up and understand it: an overview, suggested locations, the technology in one paragraph, how installation and maintenance work, estimated costs and next steps. No jargon, no small print.

4) Built to grow

We design with expansion in mind. If the council wants to start with five cameras and add more later, the wireless network is laid out so adding a camera is a small job rather than a new project.

5) Common questions

5.1) What does the design cost?

Nothing. The site visit and proposal are free and there is no obligation. If the council decides not to go ahead, you keep the plan.

5.2) Can you work with cameras we already have?

Usually, yes. We often replace or upgrade ageing systems that were handed down from a district council, and we keep whatever is still worth keeping.

Considering CCTV for your town? Call 01242 675516 or request free guidance – no obligation.