Recommended standards for the surveillance camera industry
The Surveillance Camera Commissioner has a statutory role to provide the surveillance camera industry with a current list of recommended standards.
The links below will give you more information on each standard and include a link to the BSI website where you can purchase standards. You can also read The Centre for Applied Science and Technology’s resources for the crime prevention industry.
Standards for surveillance camera installers and maintainers
This is a list of relevant British, European and International standards for installers and maintainers of surveillance cameras.
Main standards
- British Standard on the minimum requirements for a Video Surveillance System (BS EN 62676-1-1)
- British Standard on requirements for the selection, planning, installation, commissioning, maintaining and testing of CCTV systems (BS EN 62676-4)
- British Standard on the design, installation, commissioning, maintenance, operation and remote monitoring of detector-activated CCTV (BS8418)
Other relevant standards
These standards may be required depending on the installation.
- British Standard on setting out specifications for how devices work together and connect across a network (BS EN 62676-2-1)
- British Standard that specifies a method of connectivity for IP video transmission devices using HTTP and REST services (BS EN 62676-2-2)
- British Standard that specifies a method of connectivity for IP video transmission devices using web-based services (BS EN 62676-2-3)
- British Standard on video transmission protocols. Interop profiles for VMS and cloud VSaaS systems for safe cities and law enforcement (BS EN IEC 62676-2-11)
- British Standard on how digital and analog devices exchange information (BS EN 62676-3)
- British Standard on conducting the security screening of individuals (BS7858)
Standards for public space CCTV control rooms/operators
This is a list of relevant British, European and International standards for public space control rooms and operators of CCTV/Video Surveillance Systems (VSS). These standards can also be of use if you run private CCTV/VSS control rooms or use cameras to monitor private (eg commercial, retail, education) premises where members of the public have access.
Main standards
The following standards offer best practice for control rooms
- British standard setting out recommendations on the management and operation of CCTV systems (BS7958)
- British Standard on the design, installation, commissioning, maintenance, operation and remote monitoring of detector-activated CCTV (BS8418)
- British Standard on secure destruction of confidential and sensitive material (BS EN 15713:2023)
Other relevant standards for control rooms
The following standards may be applicable to control room managers responsible for CCTV/VSS contractual requirements.
- British Standard on the minimum requirements for a Video Surveillance System (BS EN 62676-1-1)
- British Standard on security, performance and connectivity of video transmissions (BS EN 62676-1-2)
- British Standard on requirements for the selection, planning, installation, commissioning, maintaining and testing of CCTV systems (BS EN 62676-4)
Other relevant standards for contractors
- British Standard setting out recommendations for the management, staffing and operation of an organisation providing security guarding services on a static site and/or mobile patrol basis (BS7499)
- British Standard on conducting the security screening of individuals (BS7858)
Standards for manufacturers
This is a list of relevant British, European and International standards for CCTV/VSS manufacturers.
- British Standard on security, performance and connectivity of video transmissions (BS EN 62676-1-2)
- British Standard that specifies a method of connectivity for IP video transmission devices using HTTP and REST services (BS EN 62676-2-2)
- British Standard that specifies a method of connectivity for IP video transmission devices using web based services (BS EN 62676-2-3)
- British Standard on how digital and analog devices exchange information (BS EN 62676-3)
- British Standard on data specifications and image quality performance for camera devices (BS EN IEC 62676-5)
- Connected places. Establishing and implementing a security-minded approach. Specification (PAS 185)
- Surveillance Camera Commissioner’s secure by design/secure by default
Standards for private CCTV monitoring companies
This is a list of relevant British, European and International standards for private monitoring companies of CCTV/VSS monitoring public space CCTV/VSS.
Main standards
- British Standard on processing of alarm signals by an alarm receiving centre (BS9518)
- British Standard on the design, installation, commissioning, maintenance, operation and remote monitoring of detector-activated CCTV (BS8418) (Note: This standard is only applicable if the control room monitors detector activated cameras)
- British standard setting out recommendations on the management and operation of CCTV systems (BS7958)
- British Standard on monitoring and alarm receiving centre (BS EN 50518)
Other applicable standard
The standard below may be required depending on vetting requirements.
Standards for body worn video cameras
This is a list of relevant standards for the use of body-worn video cameras (BWV).
- British Standard for the development and use of body worn video (BWV) (BS8593)
- BWV: technical guidance
- BWV: safeguarding data
Guidance for in-house monitoring centres
This guidance is for in-house monitoring centres that only monitor their own surveillance camera systems, and don’t have contracts to monitor third-party surveillance camera systems.
Updates to this page
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Links updated.
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Added section "Guidance for in-house monitoring centres"
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Added a new section on standards for body worn video cameras.
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Added links to guidance from CAST.
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First published.