BSIA to launch major research report on UK video surveillance market

Entitled ‘The Bigger Picture’, the report is an extensive update to the BSIA's research report of 2013, itself published under the heading ‘The Picture is Not Clear’, which has been quoted by the trade and mainstream media worldwide.

The 2022 report has been produced for the BSIA by specialist innovation research and advisory company Anekanta Consulting. It extends much further than the original report and is said to be “the most comprehensive study” of the number, type and use of video surveillance cameras in the UK ever undertaken.

A selection of headline findings will be revealed at the BSIA’s Stand (IF2850) on Wednesday 18 May including the total number of professional video surveillance cameras in use in the UK and the public versus private sector ratio, as well as the use of video surveillance cameras as a data source and the adoption of Artificial Intelligence and facial recognition software.

The full report includes a detailed analysis of the types of cameras used and for what purpose, cloud storage trends and a comprehensive study of end user applications and future trends across 11 separate vertical sectors including retail, transportation and the Critical National Infrastructure.

Drivers for surveillance

Mike Reddington, CEO at the BSIA, said: “The need for video surveillance cameras continues to grow at an accelerated rate due to the ever-present threat of terrorism in public places and an increasing desire by the private sector to improve the safety and well-being of employees in the workplace. The threat of criminal damage and theft in the commercial sectors also remain as consistent drivers for more video surveillance cameras.”

Ben Linklater, chair of the BSIA’s Video Surveillance Systems Section, commented: “The purposes and uses of cameras are regularly brought into the spotlight, raising questions about whether video surveillance cameras are used in a legal and ethical manner and whether their use is excessive or disproportionate to the risks identified. To answer these and other questions, and in order to aid stakeholders such as ourselves in developing guidance, it’s imperative that the industry researches and produces bodies of work such as ‘The Bigger Picture’.”

Pauline Norstrom, CEO at Anekanta Consulting, explained: “Cameras are increasingly used beyond the pure security remit. This report provides information about their other uses and whether Artificial Intelligence-based technologies such as facial recognition and object detection software enhance the benefit of the cameras.”

The full report is of value to any company involved in the design, manufacture, installation, integration and use of video surveillance cameras, Artificial Intelligence and storage in the UK for security purposes and beyond. It will be available to BSIA members only.