What the Gold Award means to us
We believe CCTV should be designed around the problem a customer needs to solve—not around a standard package or a sales target. Our aim is to help each customer understand their options, why a particular solution is recommended, and what trade-offs come with each choice.
We are pleased that our approach has been recognised with the Gold Award. We see it as recognition of the value of detailed, individual planning and a customer relationship in which decisions are explained rather than simply presented as a finished answer.
Gold Award · ★★★★★
The award recognises the areas highlighted in the review: tailored system design, detailed consultation and documentation, willingness to consider alternatives, attention to customer constraints, and a business model built around a wider public safety purpose.
Read the published UK Safety Camera Network Ltd review and award summary →
Information from the Security Safety Reviewer.co.uk team
In our assessment, UK Safety Camera Network Ltd stood out for the level of attention given to the customer and the effort made to go beyond a standard, off-the-shelf CCTV proposal. The approach described in the review is to build a solution around the individual site and its requirements, rather than simply fit a pre-set package.
We also recognised the emphasis on customer access and communication, including freephone telephone access and multiple ways to make contact. These channels matter because customers should have a practical way to ask questions, discuss requirements and understand the service being proposed.
Another distinguishing feature is the organisation’s stated public safety mission. Its model is intended to use commercial CCTV work to help support wider community safety initiatives, rather than treating profit as the sole purpose of the business. We regard that broader purpose, alongside its bespoke approach and customer-focused service, as an important part of the picture behind this recognition.
This reviewer’s summary is provided separately from USCN’s own description of its services. See the full published review and award criteria for further context.
Our approach: understand the purpose first
A good CCTV system starts with a clear understanding of what the customer wants to detect, deter, document or protect. The right camera position for identifying a person at an entrance may not be the right position for observing a till, a stock area or a vehicle access point.
That is why we discuss the objectives first, assess sight lines and practical constraints, and then consider the equipment and installation method. We aim to explain why a location or camera type is appropriate, what it will cover, and what limitations remain.
- Site-specific planning: recommendations are shaped by the property, the customer's objectives and the conditions at the site.
- Clear justifications: we aim to document why equipment, camera positions, cable routes and network arrangements are recommended.
- Room for customer input: customers should be able to ask questions, challenge assumptions and request reasonable changes before work proceeds.
- Practical delivery: installation planning considers access, disruption, cabling routes, maintainability and the day-to-day operation of the premises.
Bespoke solutions, not one-size-fits-all packages
Properties and security requirements vary. We believe the best answer is not always the most expensive camera or the largest system. It is the solution that meets the agreed objectives with sensible coverage, suitable equipment and a realistic understanding of cost and future maintenance.
Where a conventional layout does not adequately meet the requirement, we are willing to explore alternatives. That may mean combining different camera types, reconsidering mounting positions, adapting the network architecture or splitting competing objectives across separate cameras instead of asking one camera to do everything poorly.
We also aim to think about long-term value. Equipment choice should consider suitability, durability, support and the likely costs of ownership—not simply the initial sale.
Customer service and transparency
For us, good customer service means more than answering the telephone. It means listening carefully, providing information in a form the customer can use, being clear about what is included, and making sure expectations and contractual terms are understood before work begins.
We want customers to be able to review the reasoning behind our proposals and make informed decisions. If a recommendation does not fit their requirements or budget, that should be a conversation—not a reason to pressure them into a purchase.
A commercial service with a public safety purpose
UK Safety Camera Network Ltd was established around a public safety mission. Our model is intended to connect paid residential and commercial CCTV work with the development of a wider community safety camera network. In broad terms, revenue from commercial activity can help support public-facing safety infrastructure.
We believe high-quality commercial work and public benefit can reinforce one another: customers receive a system designed for their own needs, while the business can use its capabilities and resources to advance its wider safety objectives. The model is part of our identity, not a substitute for delivering a sound service to each individual customer.
Founder’s perspective
Founder Bert Scanlon describes the company's approach as a public safety mission supported by high-quality work. The emphasis is on helping people make informed choices, giving them the reasoning behind recommendations, and allowing them to review and question those decisions.
The founder's stated philosophy is that customers should understand the choices made for their project and why they are recommended. The intended approach is to justify a solution by the customer's circumstances, rather than selecting it simply because it is the easiest option.
Why the Gold recognition matters
The Gold tier is intended to recognise a particularly high standard of customer-focused work. Within the award framework, this means going beyond the basic provision of CCTV and beyond courteous, timely service. It focuses on tailoring the solution to the customer, explaining technical decisions, accommodating reasonable requirements, and demonstrating resourcefulness when a standard approach is not enough.
The criteria also place importance on accessibility and professional credibility: customers should have practical ways to contact a company, be able to understand what it offers, and find clear information about its services and work. Technical capability matters too. The Gold criteria call for demonstrable experience with professional-grade equipment from at least one recognised manufacturer, alongside the ability to choose and combine solutions appropriately.
The award is a meaningful recognition of these priorities. We are proud to have received it and see it as a responsibility to keep working to the standards it represents.
Read the full review
Security Safety Reviewer has published a dedicated review covering its experience of our consultation, site assessment, proposed camera positions, planning documentation and customer service. The article also explains the basis of the award and the areas it recognises.
Read our review and award summary
Explore the full review on Security Safety Reviewer, or visit our official website to learn more about our CCTV and public safety work.
Verification statement: the information presented on this page has been verified by the team at Security Safety Reviewer.co.uk, which is separate from the UK Safety Camera Network portfolio. The full published review and award criteria are linked above for reference.