Video protection and video surveillance: what are the differences?

What exactly are video protection and video surveillance? What are the differences between these 2 systems? What are their advantages? We've got all the information you need to help you choose the best security equipment for your shop.

Video protection: combating feelings of insecurity on the public highway

According to the ICO, video protection refers to the use of video cameras to monitor and record activities in public or private places and outdoor areas. This surveillance is carried out using cameras and recording devices. Cameras are often installed in strategic locations such as streets, buildings representing public authority, shops, car parks, public transport, etc. Their installation must be approved by the prefectural authority. The images filmed may not be kept for longer than one month.

The advantages of video protection

Video protection offers a number of advantages for the security of the area in which your shop is located. The main aim of video protection systems is to deter criminal behaviour and provide evidence in the event of offences or incidents. It is a valuable aid for law enforcement agencies in identifying and apprehending offenders on your premises. Images captured by cameras can be monitored in real time by security guards. The images can also be recorded and stored for future reference. It's also a way for your customers to feel safe around your shop, whether in the car park or on the street. If you are based in a sensitive area, video surveillance is a bonus, but it is no substitute for an effective video surveillance system.

Video surveillance: to ensure the safety of your shop

Video surveillance is a system of several cameras and image recording inside a private establishment, such as a shop (supermarket, supermarket, pharmacy). Video surveillance cameras can also be used to film premises that are not open to the public (shop reserves, warehouses, condominiums, etc.). Please note: the installation of video surveillance cameras is not permitted in certain areas (changing rooms, break areas, employees' changing rooms, etc.).

The main purpose of video surveillance is to ensure the safety of people and property.

It should be noted that the regulations on video surveillance do not meet the same imperatives as those for surveillance on the public highway.

The benefits of video surveillance

Video surveillance offers different security benefits to video protection. There are many advantages:

• Preventing the risk of shoplifting: the presence of video surveillance cameras in a shop acts as a deterrent to people who might be tempted to steal items from the shelves. Video surveillance can also be used to catch malevolent people in the act of theft.
• Improved security: by monitoring sensitive areas in shops, video surveillance helps to improve the safety of people and property. In terms of security, cameras also help to reduce acts of vandalism, assaults and other offences.
• Providing evidence: by recording events in real time, video surveillance provides evidence that can be used to identify the perpetrators of offences. This evidence provides recourse in the event of a dispute with a customer. If someone denies shoplifting, it's easy to provide video evidence of the facts. These images are also valuable to insurance companies, which provide better cover for shop owners equipped with video surveillance systems.
• Image storage: if the video surveillance system is based on a camera with a recorder, the images collected can be stored for up to 30 days. In the case of digital video surveillance systems, the data is stored on a computer, offering greater storage capacity. This means that the images can be viewed as many times as necessary, within the legal retention limit of 30 days.
• Reducing shrinkage: video surveillance has real economic benefits . Veesion security solutions can reduce your losses from theft by 60%. That's a huge boost to your shop's turnover.
• Savings on security: Choosing video surveillance means saving on the cost of a security guard. This is a significant budget, especially for small shops. Installing cameras is also expensive, but this cost is quickly recouped because, once deployed, video surveillance systems only require upkeep and maintenance. This is still less than the salary of a security guard.
• Remote surveillance: security guards can't have eyes everywhere. By equipping the most sensitive areas of a shop with video surveillance cameras, security can be guaranteed throughout the sales area. What's more, where video protection can only be used after the event, video surveillance cameras can detect theft in your shop directly from the control monitor. All your staff then have to do is arrest the potential thief after the checkout. This lightens the workload for your security and sales teams, who can view the control screen before deciding whether or not to intervene.

The Veesion solution uses artificial intelligence. AI detects suspicious gestures and potential shoplifting in real time. A notification, including a video of the crime, is sent to your smartphone or tablet. It is then up to the security guard or employee to take the final action by arresting the potential thief.

Video surveillance and video protection: the perfect combination for your shop

Launched in 2018, startup Veesion specialises in artificial intelligence and security. Its aim: to detect suspicious movement in real time. The Veesion algorithm is based on the latest advances in Deep Learning and is implemented on the pre-existing video surveillance system. Our solution is compatible with all types of video surveillance camera, whether analogue or digital, and enables continuous analysis.

This combination of a video surveillance system based on Veesion technology and a video protection system gives you optimum protection against suspicious gestures. With these two solutions, both the outside and inside of your shop are protected. Your customers feel safer. If a thief escapes, you have a better chance of finding him or her with the images from the outside cameras.

We were the first to use gesture recognition to prevent theft by detecting movement. This innovative solution offers you maximum security and gives your security system the best of artificial intelligence to prevent theft, break-ins and assaults.

Our Veesion solution simply requires an existing video surveillance system. A video server synchronises with the shop's cameras. Less than 30 minutes after installing Veesion, the first theft alerts can be issued.

The Veesion solution is connected to a tablet and/or a telephone and provides remote access for receiving theft alerts. Identifying suspicious behaviour and intervening in real time has never been easier.