Define the spaces to be viewed
For CCTV in Lewisham, explain whether the cameras are intended for a private home, a business unit or a managed building. A communal entrance and an individual doorway can involve different permissions and responsibilities. Establish the boundary of the proposed work before asking for equipment positions.
Describe the event each view should help explain. Seeing someone at a door, following movement through a premises and observing a wider outside area are different tasks. The number of cameras alone does not show whether a quotation meets them.
Consider ordinary operating conditions
Tell us about changing displays, parked vehicles, doors or other obstructions. Include the lighting when the premises is closed as well as during the day. If existing footage is poor, describe the circumstances and whether the problem affects live viewing, recording or playback.
Agree where the recorder will sit and how the network connection will be managed. A shared building may require coordination with a landlord or facilities contact. Relevant restrictions on external installation should be raised before positions are finalised.
Put authorised access in place
Decide who administers accounts, who views footage and who can export clips. Consult the appropriate ICO guidance for the intended operation, especially where shared or workplace areas are recorded. Ask about retention, remote viewing and continuing charges. At handover, practise finding an event rather than checking only the live picture. The result should be a system the responsible people can manage confidently.
Further information: ICO guidance for home CCTV · ICO guidance for organisations
