The first time CCTV (Closed Circuit Television) was used in UK was in the early 1960’s in London to monitor the train stations. From that point onwards more and more CCTV cameras have been installed around the country. Initially they were installed in areas prone to crime but as the years have gone by we now see CCTV cameras everywhere. No matter where you go now, the bank, the train station and even your public park you will see CCTV cameras mounted.

It is not an official number but there is an estimated 4 million closed circuit television cameras in UK and the days of just finding them in built up city areas are long gone. Even when you go for a drive into the country you will notice CCTV cameras. There is one CCTV camera for every 20 people that live in UK. If you compare that to a huge country like China which has a population of over 1.3 billion but only has around 3 million CCTV cameras at a ratio of one camera to every 427,000 citizens you can very clearly see that CCTV is cameras have been adopted as the norm in UK.

The reason for this massive growth is that the CCTV camera is totally unique in that they can assist law enforcement in there criminal investigations, can not only reduce crime but can also prevent it happening as well as preventing anti –social behaviour to name a few things.

There is no indication that the growth of CCTV cameras will slow down in the years to come, the opposite is actually true. With an ever increasing population the police are now starting to use them as a method of monitoring traffic and local councils have been given the authority to remotely fine drivers for minor offences like driving in bus lanes and stopping illegally.

From a few cameras in the early sixties to over 4 million in just 25 short years means that UK has come to view CCTV cameras as integral part of life and the number of cameras and there uses will only increase as the technology becomes more sophisticated and therefore the different applications that cameras can be used for.

It doesn’t take a brain surgeon to work out the job prospects that a qualified CCTV operator has and is not only going to be able to find work today but in the years to come as there is going to be more of a demand for licensed operators. The great thing when thinking about becoming a CCTV operator is that the license required is pretty straightforward to get and only takes around 4 day of CCTV Training then it is simply a matter of finding a job