SIA CCTV Study Guide 2026

Tampering with evidential footage (editing, deleting, or altering it) could constitute the serious criminal offence of perverting the course of justice under the Criminal Law Act 1967. A CCTV operator must refuse such requests and report them to the appropriate authority (police, senior management above the requester, or the ICO).

Keeping the caller talking allows the operator to gather crucial information (description of device, location, detonation time, caller's identity clues, background sounds) using the bomb threat checklist, which is essential for the police response.

Under UK GDPR Article 6, one lawful basis for processing is 'legitimate interests' — where the processing is necessary for legitimate purposes (e.g., crime prevention, safety), and those interests are not overridden by data subjects' rights and freedoms.

The CCTV operator's core role is proactive monitoring — watching the live feeds, identifying incidents, threats, or hazards as they develop, and communicating with response teams (security personnel, emergency services) to enable a timely and effective response.

The HSE defines a five-step risk assessment process: identify hazards, decide who might be harmed, evaluate risks, record findings, and review the assessment.

Zooming in on a PTZ camera narrows the field of view to gain detail on a specific subject. It should be used purposefully to capture identifying detail or evidential information while the operator maintains situational awareness of the wider area through other cameras.