How Do You Know If Your CCTV Has Blind Spots?

 

Good commercial CCTV camera positioning is not about how many cameras you have. It is about whether each camera is in the right place, at the right height and angle, to capture the detail you will actually need when something goes wrong. Many businesses discover the gaps only after an incident, when the footage shows the back of someone’s head, a blurred number plate or nothing at all.

 

If you want to check whether your current system already has gaps, start with our guide on how to know if your CCTV has blind spots. This article looks at the other side of the problem: the ten areas of a commercial site that are most often left uncovered or poorly covered, what each camera should be capturing, and how to position it properly.

 

Planning a new system or upgrading an old one? Our commercial CCTV services include site surveys, camera positioning, installation and ongoing maintenance.

Key takeaways

• Purpose first: decide what each camera needs to achieve before choosing where it goes. Identifying a person needs far more detail than simply seeing that someone is there.
• Entrances and exits: every way in and out of the building should be covered at a height and angle that captures faces, not the tops of heads.
• Outside the building: loading bays, car parks, gates, side access and the perimeter are where most incidents start, and where coverage is most often missed.
• Inside the building: reception, corridors, high-value storage and cash handling areas need targeted coverage, not general wide views.
• Lighting matters: a well placed camera still fails if the area is dark or the camera faces into bright light.
• Stay compliant: CCTV that captures people is covered by UK GDPR, so positioning must be justified and proportionate.

Why camera positioning matters more than camera count

Most CCTV problems are not caused by poor cameras. They are caused by poorly positioned ones. Common positioning mistakes include:

 

• Cameras mounted too high, so they only capture the tops of heads
• Wide angle cameras used where detail is needed, so faces and number plates are too small to use
• Cameras pointed into sunlight, headlights or bright doorways, leaving subjects in silhouette
• Coverage that has not been updated after a layout change, new racking or a new entrance
• Views blocked by signage, trees, stock or vehicles
• Cameras covering the same area twice while other areas are not covered at all

Understanding detection, recognition and identification

A useful way to plan positioning is the DORI framework used in BS EN 62676-4, the European standard for video surveillance system application guidelines. It describes four levels of detail, measured in pixels per metre at the target:

 

• Detect (around 25 pixels per metre): you can tell that a person or vehicle is present
• Observe (around 62 pixels per metre): you can see what someone is doing and some detail of their clothing
• Recognise (around 125 pixels per metre): you can tell whether someone is a person you already know
• Identify (around 250 pixels per metre): there is enough detail to identify an unknown person beyond reasonable doubt

 

The CCTV Design Tool guide to DORI explains the levels in more detail. In simple terms, a camera covering a whole car park may detect a person, but it will not identify them. Positioning is about placing the right camera at the right distance for the level of detail each area needs.

The 10 areas businesses commonly miss

1. Entrances and exits

Why it is missed: businesses usually cover the main entrance but forget fire exits, staff doors, rear doors and secondary entrances. Where entrances are covered, the camera is often mounted too high or looks at people from behind.

 

What the camera should capture: a clear, face on image of every person entering and leaving, at identification level.

 

Positioning tips:

 

• Position the camera inside the entrance, looking towards the door, so people walk towards it
• Mount it at a height that captures faces, typically a little above head height rather than at ceiling level
• Avoid pointing it directly at glass doors with daylight behind, which creates silhouettes, or choose a camera with strong wide dynamic range
• Cover every door that can be used to enter or leave, including fire exits
• Add a second, wider camera if you also need to see what happens outside the door

2. Loading bays

Why it is missed: loading bays are busy, change constantly and are often treated as working areas rather than security areas. Yet they are one of the most common points for theft, disputes over deliveries and accidents.

 

What the camera should capture: vehicles arriving and leaving, number plates, the loading and unloading process, and anyone moving between the bay and the building.

 

Positioning tips:

 

• Cover each bay door from inside and outside where possible
• Use a dedicated camera for number plates at the point where vehicles enter the yard or approach the bay
• Allow for trailers and high sided vehicles, which can block a low camera’s view
• Make sure lighting covers the bay at night and early morning, when many deliveries take place
• Record the dock area where goods are checked in, to help settle delivery disputes

3. Reception

Why it is missed: reception often has a general camera but not one that captures visitors clearly. It is also the main point of contact with the public, so incidents involving abusive visitors and staff safety often happen here.

 

What the camera should capture: a clear image of every visitor at the desk, and a wider view of the waiting area.

 

Positioning tips:

 

• Place one camera behind or beside the desk, facing visitors as they approach
• Use a second camera for the wider waiting area and entry point
• Avoid capturing screens, visitor books or staff computers where personal information is visible
• Consider audio carefully. Recording conversations is far more intrusive and needs strong justification under data protection law

4. Car parks

Why it is missed: car parks are large, open areas, and businesses often try to cover them with a single wide camera. The result is footage that shows something happened but not who did it or which vehicle was involved.

 

What the camera should capture: vehicles entering and leaving, number plates at the entry and exit points, and a general view of parked vehicles and walkways.

 

Positioning tips:

 

• Use dedicated cameras or ANPR at the entry and exit points to capture number plates
• Use wider cameras on columns or buildings for general overview coverage
• Cover pedestrian routes between the car park and the building
• Check lighting, as many car parks are poorly lit at night
• Account for trees, which can block views as they grow, especially in summer

5. Side access

Why it is missed: side passages, alleyways and service routes between buildings are often out of sight and forgotten. They are also a common route for intruders because they are rarely overlooked.

 

What the camera should capture: anyone entering or using the side route, and any doors or windows along it.

 

Positioning tips:

 

• Position cameras at the ends of the passage, looking along it, so anyone using it walks towards a camera
• Cover side doors, windows and fire exits along the route
• Use cameras with good low light or infrared performance, as these areas are often dark
• Consider pairing cameras with lighting or detection so activity triggers alerts

6. High-value storage

Why it is missed: stockrooms, stores, IT rooms and secure cages are often covered by a general camera in the wider warehouse, if at all. Internal theft, which is a real risk for many businesses, often happens in these areas.

 

What the camera should capture: everyone who enters the storage area, and activity around high-value stock.

 

Positioning tips:

 

• Place a camera at the entry point to the store, capturing faces of those going in
• Add coverage inside for the highest value stock or shelving
• Review coverage whenever racking or stock layout changes, as new shelving often blocks existing views
• Link access control records with CCTV where possible, so entries can be matched to footage

7. Corridors

Why it is missed: corridors seem low risk, so they are left uncovered. But corridors connect everything, and they are often the only way to trace someone’s route through a building after an incident.

 

What the camera should capture: people moving between areas, particularly at junctions, stairwells and the entrance to sensitive rooms.

 

Positioning tips:

 

• Position cameras at the end of long corridors, looking along their length
• Many cameras offer a corridor mode, which turns the image to portrait format to make better use of long narrow spaces
• Cover junctions and stairwells, where routes split
• Avoid covering areas where privacy is expected, such as toilets and changing rooms

8. Cash handling areas

Why it is missed: tills may be covered, but back offices, cash counting areas and safes are often not. Where they are covered, the camera may not capture enough detail to see the cash itself.

 

What the camera should capture: the transaction or counting surface, the person handling the cash and the safe.

 

Positioning tips:

 

• Place a camera above and slightly behind the till or counting desk, so notes and the cash drawer are visible
• Add a second camera facing the person, to capture their face
• Cover the safe and the route between the till and the cash office
• Protect staff privacy by covering the task, not the whole room where staff take breaks

9. Gates

Why it is missed: gates are often at the edge of the site, far from the building, and may not be powered or networked. As a result, they are frequently left out of the system or covered only by a distant camera.

 

What the camera should capture: every vehicle and person passing through the gate, including number plates and faces.

 

Positioning tips:

 

• Use a dedicated camera or ANPR camera close to the gate, positioned for number plates
• Add a camera for pedestrians where gates allow people on foot
• Make sure cameras capture the gate being opened and closed, as well as who passes through
• Plan power and network connections early, as these are often the limiting factor at gates

10. External perimeter

Why it is missed: perimeter coverage is often limited to the front of the site. Fence lines, rear boundaries and yards are left unmonitored, which means intruders are not seen until they are already at the building.

 

What the camera should capture: anyone approaching or crossing the boundary, early enough to respond.

 

Positioning tips:

 

• Use cameras looking along fence lines rather than across them, so fewer cameras cover more distance
• Combine perimeter cameras with video analytics or detection, so movement triggers alerts rather than relying on someone watching screens
• Cover the corners of the building, which give views along two elevations
• Keep vegetation trimmed and check views regularly

Lighting, weather and the environment

Even the best positioned camera will struggle if the environment works against it. When planning positions, consider:

 

• Lighting: low light, infrared performance and additional lighting for dark areas
• Backlight: avoiding cameras pointed into sunlight, headlights or bright doorways
• Weather: rain, fog and direct sun on the lens, particularly on exposed elevations
• Vandalism: vandal resistant housings and mounting heights for accessible cameras
• Seasonal change: trees and vegetation that block views in summer
• Site changes: new racking, partitions, signs or vehicles that block views over time

CCTV positioning and data protection

If your CCTV captures images of people, it is covered by UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018. The Information Commissioner’s Office guidance on CCTV and video surveillance sets out what businesses need to do. For positioning, the key points are:

 

• Have a clear purpose: each camera should be there for a specific, justified reason, such as crime prevention or staff safety
• Be proportionate: cover what you need, and avoid capturing more than necessary
• Respect privacy: do not position cameras where people expect privacy, such as toilets or changing areas
• Avoid neighbouring property: angle cameras to avoid capturing neighbouring homes, gardens or public space beyond what is needed
• Use signage: make sure people know CCTV is in operation
• Assess the impact: a data protection impact assessment is recommended for many CCTV systems

 

The ICO also provides a CCTV self-assessment checklist businesses can use to check their approach.

How to plan commercial CCTV camera positioning

1. Walk the site. Look at every entrance, exit, route and area of value, inside and outside.
2. Identify the risks. Consider theft, intrusion, vandalism, staff safety, delivery disputes and liability claims.
3. Set a purpose for each area. Decide whether you need to detect, observe, recognise or identify in each location.
4. Choose the right camera and lens. Match the camera type and field of view to the level of detail needed.
5. Check lighting and obstructions. Test views in daylight and at night.
6. Plan power, network and recording. Make sure every camera can be connected and recorded reliably.
7. Review compliance. Check each position against your data protection obligations.
8. Review regularly. Revisit coverage after any change to the building, layout or use.

 

A professional CCTV site survey follows this process and gives you a clear plan showing each camera position, its purpose and its expected level of detail.

Commercial CCTV positioning checklist

• Entrances and exits: every door covered, with faces captured at identification level
• Loading bays: bay doors, vehicles and number plates covered
• Reception: visitors captured face on, with a wider view of the waiting area
• Car parks: entry and exit points covered for number plates, with overview coverage of the rest
• Side access: passages and side doors covered from each end
• High-value storage: everyone entering the store captured, with coverage of key stock
• Corridors: junctions, stairwells and long corridors covered
• Cash handling: tills, counting areas and safes covered with enough detail to see cash
• Gates: vehicles and pedestrians captured at every gate
• Perimeter: fence lines, boundaries and building corners covered
• Lighting: every camera area lit or covered by suitable low light cameras
• Compliance: purpose, signage and privacy reviewed for every camera

Frequently asked questions

Where should CCTV cameras be placed in a business?

At every entrance and exit, in loading bays, reception, car parks, side access routes, high-value storage, corridors, cash handling areas, gates and along the external perimeter. The exact positions depend on the risks and layout of your site.

How high should a commercial CCTV camera be mounted?

It depends on the purpose. Cameras intended to identify people should be mounted low enough to capture faces, rather than the tops of heads. Overview cameras can be mounted higher. Mounting height is also a balance with protecting cameras from tampering.

How many CCTV cameras does a business need?

There is no fixed number. It depends on the size of the site, the number of entrances, the risks involved and the level of detail needed in each area. A site survey is the best way to work it out.

What is the difference between recognising and identifying someone on CCTV?

Recognition means you can tell whether someone is a person you already know. Identification means there is enough detail to identify an unknown person beyond reasonable doubt. Identification needs around twice the image detail of recognition.

Can one CCTV camera cover a whole car park?

It can give a general overview, but it is unlikely to capture number plates or faces with enough detail to use as evidence. Most car parks need overview cameras plus dedicated cameras at entry and exit points.

Should CCTV cover the outside or inside of a business?

Both. External cameras cover approaches, car parks, loading bays and the perimeter, where many incidents begin. Internal cameras cover entrances, reception, storage, cash handling and routes through the building.

Can my CCTV point at a neighbour’s property or the street?

You should position cameras to avoid capturing neighbouring property or public areas beyond what is necessary for your purpose. If your cameras do capture these areas, you must be able to justify it under data protection law.

Do I need signs for business CCTV?

Yes. People should be told that CCTV is in operation, usually through clear signs showing who operates the system and how to contact them.

How do I know if my existing CCTV has blind spots?

Review footage from each camera, walk the site and check whether every entrance, route and area of value is covered at the right level of detail. Our guide on how to spot CCTV blind spots walks through the process.

How often should CCTV positioning be reviewed?

Whenever the site changes, such as new entrances, racking, partitions, vehicles or vegetation, and as part of regular CCTV maintenance. Even without changes, an annual review is a sensible habit.

Book a CCTV site survey

If you are not confident your cameras are in the right places, or you are planning a new system, a professional site survey will show you exactly where coverage is missing and how to fix it.

 

Full Circuit Fire & Security designs, installs and maintains commercial CCTV systems for businesses across a wide range of sectors. Explore our CCTV services or book a CCTV site survey with our team today.