FOUR Security Consultants Ltd have worked with Marks and Spencer’s Head of Corporate Security, Clint Reid, to gain the Surveillance Camera Commissioner’s CCTV certification in compliance with its CCTV Code of Practice. M&S is thought to be the first retailer in the UK to achieve this certification.
M&S felt that adopting the CCTV Code of Practice would provide transparency and consistency through its operations. The company says that the code has provided many benefits, for example, cost reduction through value management and rationalisation of CCTV systems against need and purpose. The retailer has also seen a reduction in installation, which has reduced cost and minimised retail disruption. The standard has been applied throughout the firm from head office, to distribution centres to retail stores. The retailer say it has improved quality measurement, supported by audit and review.
The certification has uplifted the profile of CCTV within M&S. It is seen as a source of operational information and the increased awareness of M&S’s CCTV capability, with the quality of its CCTV product, has resulted in managers being more willing to use the data to help them realise operational and commercial benefits.
Clint Reid, Marks and Spencer’s Head of Corporate Security, says: “We are pleased to continue our partnership with FOUR Security and optimistic about the potential improvements in protecting our people and working environment that gaining the SCC CCTV certification will bring.”
And Brendan McGarrity, pictured, Head of Four Security Consultants, adds: “We praise the vision and tenacity of Clint and his team in realising the importance of gaining certification and the hard work they put in, helping us achieve it with them.”
About the certification
Briefly, the Surveillance Camera Commissioner suggests certification enables organisations to demonstrate to communities that they use their CCTV systems transparently, effectively and proportionately. The scheme is open to any organisation operating public space CCTV. Visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/surveillance-camera-code-of-practice-third-party-certification-scheme.
