CCTV operator
Watch live images sent from closed circuit television cameras to spot and prevent crimes and traffic jams.
About the job
Salary
Source: LMI for All
Weekly
£550
Average
Monthly
£2,383
Average
Yearly
£28,600
Average
12,200
people are currently employed
High growth
200 more jobs in 5 years
These figures refer to this job and similar ones with comparable skills and qualifications. They only apply to Scotland. Source: Oxford Economics
What it's like
You would watch live images sent from closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras so you can spot and prevent crimes, accidents and incidents like traffic jams.
You could work for a local council where cameras would overlook public spaces or a private company in a large complex like a factory or shopping centre.
CCTV is also used on public transport like buses and trains, in stations and to monitor traffic in a city or on busy roads like motorways.
You would watch the images that are sent from the cameras and try to spot if anything untoward is happening so you can stop an incident such as a crime or a traffic jam from developing.
You would:
watch screens in a control centre
pay attention to any suspicious activity
move the cameras by remote control if you need to get a better image
contact police to report crimes in action
ensure recordings are kept safe and correctly labelled so they can be located
find recordings and copy them for the police
report if a camera is not working.
You’d need to be observant and skilled at interpreting people’s body language and expressions. You need to able to react quickly.
The images you see and record may include some upsetting or shocking scenes. You’d need to be able to keep calm. You’d also need to be discreet and not discuss what you have seen with people who are not colleagues.
Hours
Environment
Travel
Explore more information about this job
Here are some useful links to learn more about this career:
Like the sound of this career?
Browse courses in Scotland related to 'CCTV operator'
Select qualification level(s)
Other careers that you might like
Private investigator Security officer Store detective
Related industries
Many jobs can be done in lots of different industries. We've highlighted the ones we think are most important for this job.
Top skills
Skills are things you're good at. Whether you know what yours are or not, everyone has them!
It's useful to learn which ones are important in a job so you know the areas you need to brush up on. It can also help you work out if you're suited to a career.
Here are some of the skills you'll need to do this job:
- problem solving
- observation
- verbal communication
- attention to detail
- concentrating
Your skills are important
Our unique skillsets are what make us stand out from the crowd. Learn about each skill in depth and discover what employers look for in your applications and interviews.
Getting in
Explore the sections shown for more information about getting into this career.
You might have qualifications which are not shown here but will allow you access to a course. You can compare your qualifications by looking at their SCQF Level. For more information about this, check out the SCQF website.
Always contact the college, university or training provider to check exactly what you'll need.
Colleges and universities will list subjects you'll need for entry to a course. Some useful subjects include:
Information and Communications Technology - ICT
You do not need formal qualifications to entry this job but experience in police, armed services or security roles will be very helpful.
Qualifications that show expertise in security services such Security Industry Authority (SIA) qualifications will be of value.
Qualifications may be gained once in a job such as the SIA-recognised SQA Award for Working as a CCTV Operator (Public Space Surveillance) within the Private Security Industry (SCQF level 6).
You require a satisfactory PVG (Protecting Vulnerable Groups) check and may have to pass other security checks.
You may require Security Industry Authority (SIA) licence or specialist CCTV-related SIA qualifications prior to applying to some roles.
To qualify for this licence you must be aged 18 or over. You will also need to pass an identity check, a criminal record check, and have achieved an SIA approved Level 2 Award in CCTV Operations (Public Space Surveillance).
Find the right course for you
Browse courses in Scotland related to 'CCTV operator'