How to Find Accredited CCTV Installers in Leicester

Did you know that the UK has the most security cameras of anywhere on earth? 

CCTV is one of the great advancements in security the modern age. Think of the number of potential burglars put off thanks to these smart little systems.

Plus, when an incident does occur, it’s now so much easier to track down the culprits and let the police (not to mention your insurance company) handle it.

Let’s take a look at how to choose accredited CCTV installers in Leicester – a city which happens to be close to Rhino’s heart.

Overview of Crime Statistics in Leicester

Rhino is a Leicester-based company, so most of the Rhino team calls Leicestershire home. Many of us are Leicester born and bred, so you’ll never hear us levelling criticism against this great city. That being said, there are some shocking statistics out there about crime in Leicester which are important to know if you’re responsible for a property, business premises, lock-up garage, storage unit or warehouse space here.

According to CrimeRate, Leicester saw 369 reports of criminal damage and arson during December 2022, as well as 273 burglaries during that month alone. The general trend across the whole country isn’t exactly looking promising either. In 2023, robbery offences increased by 11% across England and Wales, according to data released by the Office of National Statistics (ONS). 

These Leicester crime statistics paint a grim picture. Whether you want to protect your home or business, CCTV can go a long way towards protecting what’s precious to you. 

Importance of CCTV in Crime Prevention

These aren’t just statistics. Behind each one of these hundreds of crimes, there is an individual, family, business or even a whole community left devastated. 

CCTV can’t stop every theft, trespass, burglary, arson attack and vandalism from happening. But CCTV is known to be an effective deterrent, helping to keep your premises and property safe and protected under the watchful eye of a security camera.

From domes, bullets and C-mounts, there are a few different types of CCTV camera. At Rhino, we’re not experts in CCTV cameras (although we do specialise in insurance for CCTV installers), so we’ll leave the nitty gritty down to the professionals. But suffice to say the benefits of having a good CCTV system in place are many, and if you’re based in Leicester then it seems like a bit of a no-brainer to have it installed.

How to Select the Best CCTV Installers for the Job

Although CCTV is everywhere, not all CCTV is created equal. To make sure you’re getting the best out of CCTV technology, you will need to hire a top-notch CCTV installer. 

But how to find one? Be sure to look for:

• Local presence

If you’re looking for CCTV installation in Leicester, hitting your search engine of choice is the obvious way to go. Make you’re the location services on your browser are enabled while you search – this will bring up CCTV installers near you and tell you a little bit about their business. This may include services offered, accreditation (e.g., NSI), and hopefully some positive reviews. If there are any CCTV installers reading this, this is your reminder to smarten up your website and ensure you’re registered on Google Business, which means your business will appear when customers do a local search. 

• Training

There is no minimum qualification as such to become a CCTV installer, but that by no means suggests it’s not a complicated job which requires some special skills. Ask your CCTV installer how many jobs they’ve worked on (an experienced CCTV installer will rack up hundreds or even thousands), and if there is any extra training they have undergone (such as Cyber Security). A good CCTV installer will be able to proudly tell you about their training and experience.

• Accreditation

You’re going to want to select a CCTV installer who is accredited, ideally by the National Security Inspectorate (NSI) and to Gold standard. NSI accreditation in the CCTV industry means they undergo checks to verify their quality standards and adhere to strict codes of practice in their operations. This includes making sure that privacy and rights of neighbours and others is not infringed by the installation, which could land you in legal hot water. Also, look for the NSI checkmark on their website or leaflet.

• Security screened engineers

Giving someone the power to set up surveillance in your home, business or other premises is putting a lot of trust in them. Don’t leave it to chance – make sure your CCTV installer conducts security checks on its engineers. This could include CRB checks before being hired by the company.

• Quality Assurance 

You may wish to look for further assurance of quality by checking if your CCTV installation company adheres to ISO9001:2015 quality standards. This is a quality management system that’s internationally recognised, and it means that your CCTV installer will have procedures in place to measure and implement a high-quality service.

• Insurance

It goes without saying that any self-employed tradesperson worth their salt has a robust Public Liability Insurance policy to their name, and an Employer’s Liability policy if they have any employees. Having trade insurance is proof that the CCTV installer takes the risks of their job seriously and is able to put things right financially should something happen while they’re carrying out their work.

And if they’re insured by Rhino, this is another plus! They’re obviously smart enough to recognise the value of a fuss-free service with no jargon, and a company that delivers what they promise. 

• Online presence

Last but not least, your CCTV installer must have several (ideally at least 10) genuine positive reviews available to read online. 

These days, there’s no excuse for any tradesperson not to have some form of online footprint – it’s the best way for clients to show their appreciation and their dissatisfaction with their services. This gives you as a potential customer the real story on whether or not they offer a good service.