CCTV Evidence Challenges

While CCTV videos can be key pieces of evidence, a number of challenges in obtaining and using CCTV footage is common. This post examines some of the most common problems in using CCTV video:

• Retrieving Video: There are hundreds of different manufacturers of CCTV systems and very few work the same way. If you need to retrieve video, you have to find someone who knows how to use that particular system.
• Playing Back Video: Many CCTV systems use their own proprietary video compression. This can cause problems in trying to play back the video. Finding the codec for that system's compression can be difficult. It's best to always ask for video to be shared in AVI format (that can be played back on any media player). Even better is to get the video packaged in a self-enclosed player. Many PCs (especially in law enforcement) have restrictions on applications installed. Putting the video in a self-enclosed player means that you can click the video file and run it without installing anything.
• Verifying Video Authenticity: Again, CCTV systems vary in how they verify the authenticity of video, proving that the video has not been tampered. Some video systems have no way to do this. Others apply a simply overlay on the video. The most secure calculate a digital key when creating the video (though this is rare). There's no common technique for CCTV video verification. If this is important to a case you are working on, you will need to check the specifics of the system where the video was recorded.
• Video No Longer Available: Very frequently, video clips will not be available after a short period of time. This varies by the user but some only keep video for 7 days and most do not keep video longer than 30 days. If you really need the evidence, push to get it right away before the video is overwritten.

If you have other questions or issues on CCTV evidence, leave a comment and I will be happy to provide more recommendations, My site, IP Video Market Info, is the world's leading resource on CCTV/video surveillance. For those who need in-depth information on surveillance cameras, video analytics, monitoring and more, the site may be able to help.

The unique CCTV Camera Evaluation Service

For quite some time, it’s become increasingly obvious that vast numbers of Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) security cameras, are failing to produce any useful Evidential Quality video recordings, when required to assist with criminal investigations.

Time and again, both senior police officers and industry experts have revealed to the Press, the everyday problems facing investigators trying to recover poor quality images, often obtained from incorrectly installed and maintained surveillance cameras.

Now more than ever, with an increasing awareness of the absolutely vital role for CCTV, particularly in investigations involving serious crimes and terrorism, CCTV Operators really do need to take urgent steps to improve the effectiveness of their systems, to make sure they are truly “fit for purpose”.

October 1st 2008 saw the official launch of a unique new CCTV service called “VIPER”.

Designed to provide an easy, affordable expert assessment of security camera performance, the “Video Image Performance Evaluation Report” or VIPER, is now available to indicate how well an individual camera is performing as a vital evidential security tool.

UK based CCTV Advisor ‘Doktor Jon’, has introduced what is believed to be the first ever online service, that can actually provide CCTV Operators with an impartial and independent overview of precisely how their CCTV cameras are performing, and what technical issues may need to be addressed in order for the equipment to be able to provide useful and usable evidential quality images.

The service itself is very simple ... a CCTV User can forward an image captured from an individual surveillance camera (normally supplied as a JPEG file, sent as an e-mail attachment), and a resulting VIPER assessment will be produced to report on the cameras technical and operational capabilities in 38 key areas.

VIPER reports can be ordered up by CCTV users located anywhere around the globe, and in terms of built in client confidentiality, there is no requirement for either knowing the identity of the operator, or indeed the location of the camera. The evaluation is based purely on what is seen ‘on screen’, and so provides an exceptionally affordable, practical and secure solution, to an extremely common problem ... “how can I find out if my CCTV cameras are working well?”.

The first VIPER assessment is designed for fixed video surveillance cameras, and a number of additional VIPER evaluations are being developed for other types of CCTV, for example remote control Pan, Tilt and Zoom (PTZ) units.


Jon, the principle CCTV Advisor from the website doktorjon.co.uk has said that “Previously, cctv users have only been able to have their cameras performance evaluated independently, by employing the services of a specialist CCTV Consultant, and that can often prove to be very expensive. Now with the launch of VIPER, anyone can check whether their cameras are working well, and without breaking the bank”; -commenting on the importance of VIPER, he says “Law Enforcement Officers have long been complaining about the very poor quality of many CCTV recordings; from the extremely positive comments received to date, this looks like exactly what’s needed to help raise the performance, suitability and effectiveness of vital Forensic Surveillance evidence”.

More information at http://www.doktorjon.co.uk/cctvimage.html
or e-mail to:- viper[at]doktorjon.co.uk

Notes for Editors:- Doktor Jon is a UK based specialist CCTV Advisor working in the Industry since 1978. In June 2004, he launched his personal website project at http://www.doktorjon.co.uk , which has since grown into a unique site with almost 1,600 pages of information and advice on all aspects of “The Use and Application of CCTV”; to date it has attracted nearly two and a half million hits, and visitors from 141 countries.