New guidance for retailers on the use and best practices of CCTV systems has been unveiled by the Home Office.

Launched at the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) Crime Prevention Forum, the guide is designed to help retailers get the most out of their CCTV systems and offers advice on minimum requirements of image quality, best placement of cameras and storage of the images captured.

It is expected that this guide will complement the proposed surveillance camera code of practice, which the government is currently consulting on. Legislation is expected to be implemented by the end of June this year, subject to Parliamentary review.

Welcoming the guide, ACS chief executive James Lowman said: “CCTV is crucial to many retailers and this guide will them optimise its value, providing staff and customers with piece of mind and deterring criminals.

“We also welcome the government’s consultation on the CCTV Code of Practice and we urge retailers to be mindful of the provision in the code when they install CCTV within their business.”

The CCTV Supporting Small Businesses Guide can be downloaded from the Home Office.