CCTV systems are a common part of everyday life. They can be seen in the streets, outside people's homes and in most shops and supermarkets. They keep a watchful eye over us and make it easy to identify perpetrators when a crime has been committed. 

As with all modern technologies, there was a time when our society existed without CCTV (can you imagine!) In fact, the CCTV camera as we know it has only really existed for the last 80-100 years. Let's delve into the history of CCTV to see where it originated and what it was used for. 

The first mechanical CCTV system

The first recorded CCTV system was created by the famous Russian inventor, Léon Theremin in 1927. The system was, as you can imagine, fairly simple and consisted of a manually-operated camera that sent images through a wireless shortwave transmitter and receiver, with a resolution of only 100 lines. 

This CCTV system was quickly recognised as something that could prove very useful to the Russian state and was shown to Joseph Stalin, Semyon Budyonny and Sergo Ordzhonikidze. Once they saw its potential, they requested that this rudimentary CCTV system be installed around the courtyard of the Moscow Kremlin so that security could monitor visitors.

CCTV in WW2

Another example of early CCTV was used by Germany to observe the launch of V-2 rockets in 1942. This CCTV system was created by an electrical engineer called Walter Bruch who was one of the pioneers of German television. This CCTV system was very successful and got people thinking about different ways this technology could be used. 

Commercial CCTV

Commercial CCTV systems didn't hit the market in the United States until 1949. The earliest known commercial CCTV system was called Vericon. Sadly, few records remain to explain what Vericon was, how it worked, or what it was used for. We do know that it was advertised as 'not requiring a government permit' which made it easily accessible to home and business owners for the first time. 

CCTV in the streets

CCTV was being sold commercially, so you'd think it would've exploded onto our streets and into public areas... but this wasn't really the case. The MET trialled a CCTV system in the streets in July 1960 to oversee the arrival of the Thai royal family. Throughout the 60s, different cities across the country including Leeds and Liverpool installed CCTV systems to see if they could make public spaces safer. These trials showed that the idea of having CCTV systems everywhere at the time was unrealistic because it would cost too much to wire it in. 

Widespread CCTV

During the 70s and 80s, CCTV became cheaper and easier to install, so high-risk establishments like shopping stores and banks began to use them. Later, in the 1980s, local authorities began installing CCTV on roads and in streets. Nowadays, CCTV can be found just about everywhere!

READ MORE: How Does CCTV Work?

IDS Security

Here at IDS Security, we have been installing CCTV systems for more than twenty years! We use the most modern technologies on the market and we're specialists in the design, installation and maintenance of bespoke CCTV systems. We work with home and business owners to keep their properties safe. Learn more about our CCTV Systems here:

CCTV Systems >

If you have any questions about our CCTV systems or any of the other security systems we offer, give us a call on 029 20 753 251.

There are so many people across the UK who are getting in the Christmas spirit early this year. 2020 has been a tumultuous year and people are ready for a bit of festive cheer. Here at IDS, we know that businesses have had a lot to cope with and various parts of the UK are still facing the challenge of lockdown restrictions.

One thing's for certain, if and when small businesses can open back up again, they're going to be taking advantage of the Christmas shoppers and hopefully making up for sales lost earlier in the year. 

Here at IDS, we want to help small businesses open up in a safe manner so that they can welcome Christmas shoppers back into their stores with open arms (socially distanced of course).

Controlling customer numbers

One of the first challenges that businesses face during the coronavirus pandemic, is making sure that the number of people inside their store is kept to a minimum.

Now, you've probably seen some smaller businesses using a "one-in, one-out" system, but as the weather gets colder, shoppers may not want to hang around in the cold and wait for their turn to enter your shop. The very thought of this is probably driving Christmas shoppers to buy online anyway, but there is something you can do to make sure your business can accommodate anyone who comes to shop in person.

How can you remedy this? Well, to start with, we'd recommend reading our blog - How Many People Can I Have in My Shop at a Time?

Rather than having one or two people in-store at a time, you'd be able to accommodate more Christmas shoppers with the right technology in place. 

We'd recommend taking a look at our density control cameras, designed to help you manage people coming in and out of your store automatically. That's right, you won't need someone to stand by the door and count people as they come in and out, our density control cameras will do the hard work for you. 

Density Control Cameras >

Detecting COVID-19 in shoppers

Most business owners would agree that knowing whether or not their customers had COVID-19 would make it much easier to create a safe shopping space. Of course, you can do your bit by providing track and trace QR codes, but this only really becomes useful after the customers have been to your store and left. 

You'd hope that people going out and about to do their Christmas shopping would be sensible enough to stay at home if they suspected they had COVID-19, but this isn't always the case. Some people are unaware that they have it and others are taking too long to recognise their symptoms. 

There is a way to protect your business! Our thermal screening cameras can look out for any customers with an unusually high temperature, a key indicator of COVID-19. This can be useful, not only for your customers but for your employees too. Checking temperatures regularly will help make sure that no one visiting or working in your business over Christmas has a fever.

Thermal Screening Cameras >

We know that Christmas 2020 is going to be challenging, but with a little help from IDS Security, you can make your business safe for Christmas shoppers. Give us a call on 029 20 753 251 for more information.

Maintaining your home security system is vital if you want to keep your home and belongings safe! After all, what use is a house alarm if it doesn't respond when you need it to? Checking your home security system is working properly periodically will ensure that you and your family are kept safe if or when an emergency occurs.

Home Security Systems

There are more and more property owners who are thinking about having security systems installed. Here at IDS, we offer a variety of different home security systems solutions including CCTV cameras, intruder alarms and fire alarms. We work with you to create a home security system that suits all of your needs and we can even provide you with a maintenance contract to keep your new home security system working like a dream.

As you can imagine, busy people with busy lives don't always get time to check that their home security systems are working properly, and many don't have the expertise to fix them if something has gone wrong. This means that home security systems up and down the country are rendered completely useless. 

More On Home Security Systems >

Maintenance Contracts

If you're thinking about having a home security system installed by the IDS Security team, don't forget to ask about our maintenance contracts. These maintenance contracts provide you with the reassurance that one of our professional engineers will attend your property if a problem occurs at any point - 24 hours, 7 days a week. 

If you notice a problem with your home security system & you've got a maintenance contract with us, all you have to do is call our team on 029 20 753 251 and we'll send an engineer out right away to deal with the problem. Consider our maintenance contracts as an insurance policy for your home security system. We'll carry out the routine maintenance so that your home is protected at all times. 

Read More:  5 Reasons to Get a Home Security System

If you have any questions about home security system maintenance, or if you'd like to add a security system to your home, don't hesitate to pick up the phone and call us on 029 20 753 251.

If you're a small business owner, investing in a good CCTV system can help you ensure your property is secure at all times. The CCTV system needs to be built to suit the layout of your business so that all the vulnerable areas are covered. This includes any doors, windows or other entry points. The mere presence of a CCTV camera can be enough to deter criminals, but having a high-quality CCTV system installed will come in very handy if an incident ever occurs. 

What are the main benefits of a CCTV system?

Digital Witness

One of the most appealing benefits of a CCTV system for small businesses is the idea that they'll witness and record any suspicious or criminal activities that take place around the premises. The footage can be used in a court of law to prove innocence and/or guilt. The two key things that CCTV cameras record are the physical appearance of the suspect and the true nature of events. High-quality CCTV footage is hard to argue against!

Reduction of Crime

People who are up to no good, don't like the idea of being caught! Once people in the area know that the space around your shop is under surveillance, they'll be less likely to commit a crime there. Most members of the public assume that CCTV cameras are installed... pretty much everywhere. Don't be caught out by being the one small business owner that doesn't have CCTV installed!

Public Safety

Some business owners can see the footage on their CCTV cameras in real-time (whether that's inside or outside the building). If someone has their eye on the camera footage, they can ensure that someone intervenes early on. Catching someone in the act of a robbery, an assault, or any other crime can help you prevent/prosecute for it straight away!

Covid Security

As well as keeping your small business safe, CCTV cameras can be useful for general business management and COVID security! Here at IDS Security, we offer temperature screening and density control cameras that can help you to control the spread of coronavirus in your business.

These cameras work by either detecting how many people are entering/leaving the building at any given time, or doing temperature checks to ensure that people interacting with your business aren't displaying one of the key coronavirus symptoms.

What can IDS Security Systems offer my small business?

We've worked with so many small businesses over the years to help improve their security. As well as providing bespoke CCTV systems, we can also offer fire alarms, intruder alarms, access control systems and security barriers. Our technicians work with you to build a comprehensive security system that suits your small business needs exactly!

With many businesses closing their doors due to the coronavirus pandemic, now is a really good time to improve your security systems. That way, you know that your business is safe, even while you're away from the premises. 

 Read More: COVID-19 Cases Still Rising - Protect Your Business

If you have any questions about setting up CCTV for your small business, don't hesitate to get in touch. Call 029 20 753 251or email us at admin@ids-securityltd.co.uk.

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If someone tries to force entry into your business premises, a commercial burglar alarm will provide a quick response to get the situation under control. Commercial burglar alarms work by alerting staff members on-site, passers-by or the emergency services that an intrusion is taking place. But how do you choose the right one for your business? With so many on the market, it can be hard to know where to start. The IDS Security System experts have put this guide together to help guide you.

Audible Alarms

Audible alarm systems work by, you guessed it, making a lot of noise until someone does something about it. They're designed to be so loud and piercing that the intruder won't be able to stand it and will vacate your property immediately... if you've ever heard one, you'll know what we mean. Generally, these alarm systems will continue to sound until they're manually switched off... not ideal if you live miles away from your business and it starts going off over the weekend! 

We don't usually recommend audible alarms for commercial premises for a few reasons. Firstly, they rely solely on the actions of individuals that are in or near to your commercial property. If no one is around at the time of the break-in, then the chances of it being reported to the police are pretty slim. Besides, if these alarms are triggered accidentally, they can cause a real disturbance for surrounding businesses. 

Having said that, there are a few commercial properties that might benefit from an audible only alarm system. For example, if you're a small business and you're friendly with the neighbouring businesses/homeowners then you can be fairly confident that they'll report a disturbance to the police and notify you straight away (they're also likely to be less disgruntled if it starts going off accidentally). These alarms are also good for 24-hour businesses (where someone is always on the premises), or for business owners who live very close to their businesses. 

That being said, this wouldn't be our first recommendation if you came to us looking for a commercial burglar alarm system. Nowadays, there are much more sophisticated systems on the market which will provide you with a higher level of security and control.

Monitoring Service

Commercial burglar alarms that are connected to a remote monitoring service are highly effective! Nowadays, most commercial property insurers will specify this level of alarm system as a minimum, so look out for this if you're a new start-up business. 

These commercial alarm systems work by contacting a monitoring service when the alarm is triggered. The monitoring service will then take a look at the situation and decide whether or not it's a false activation. If it's not a false activation and a break-in is occurring, the monitoring service will notify the relevant emergency services straight away. By filtering the activations, monitored alarms help to make sure that you're not wasting police time unnecessarily.

The response time is very quick and completely automatic which ensures that someone attends the property even if you, the business owner, are unable to do so yourself. Monitored alarms are perfect for all kinds of businesses, but are particularly beneficial for companies with multiple locations across the country or vulnerable businesses that might be targeted by professional/skilled burglars. 

Our Monitored Alarm Service >

Here at IDS Security, we work with commercial businesses to create a burglar alarm system that suits their needs exactly. To choose the right commercial burglar alarm, we'd recommend thinking about your businesses security needs and tailoring the system to suit you!

If you're looking for a commercial burglar alarm system, don't hesitate to get in touch with our technicians for a free quotation today!