Define whose entrance you are recording
For a Bermondsey unit in a larger building, specify whether the camera is for your own doorway, a shopfront or a common entrance. These views have different owners and users. Before equipment positions are agreed, identify the person responsible for the space and who can authorise installation on the proposed surface.
If the property has heritage restrictions, include them in the brief. Discreet positioning and suitable cable routes need to be considered with those restrictions from the beginning, rather than treated as an adjustment after a price is accepted.
Design for the incident you need to review
A camera intended to show a visitor at the entrance has a different purpose from one giving an overview of a shop floor. Describe the event you want to understand. Tell us about glare from windows, a recessed doorway or obstructions created when the premises is open. The proposed view needs to be useful in the conditions that actually occur.
Avoid giving every member of a shared building access to recordings by default. Decide who administers the system and who needs viewing rights. Consult the appropriate ICO guidance about operation and handling footage.
Include retrieval in your acceptance check
Agree the recorder location, available network connection and any access requirements with building management. Ask whether the quoted arrangement includes remote viewing and any ongoing cost. During handover, locate a recording and practise exporting a clip. Being able to see a live image does not establish that the recording and retrieval process meets your needs.
Further information: ICO guidance for home CCTV · ICO guidance for organisations
