Newcastle upon Tyne based security specialist UKB Security has noted a 38% increase in CCTV installations to residential properties in the over the same three month period to May last year. Sales Director Steve Barnard said: “Our core business in protecting industrial and commercial property but since Autumn 2008 we have seen a steady increase in residential property owners enquiring about high specifications CCTV and automatic gate systems. We haven’t had a request for ram-proof pop-up barriers from a residential client yet, but it can only be a matter of time”.

Many home owners are installing new ‘smart cameras’ which alert a central control room to any movement in their vicinity. An operator will then talk to the person through a microphone and speaker built into the camera to verify if they have permission to be around the house, and if not, advise them that police have been informed and are on their way. The system is accessible via the internet through a password system so home owners can check on their property 24 – 7 from anywhere in the world. Smart cameras can be switched on and off using the same switch that sets and un-sets the house alarm.

Steve Barnard says: “With commercial clients, security and the savings to be made over traditional static guards are the driving force behind the adoption of smart cameras. With residential clients it is the peace of mind that comes from knowing a trained security professional is watching their property while they are away. Passive CCTV simply records and stores images, but this new technology is like having a security guard watching your home at those times you specify. In the past, criminals have resorted to wearing hoodies, hats or masks to foil CCTV, but when the camera starts talking to them they quickly realise its Game Over”.

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