The UK House of Commons has approved a bill that seeks to ban Chinese surveillance technology, such as CCTV, from government buildings and military bases.

CCTV has been a primary security tool widely used by governments, businesses, organisations, and even individuals worldwide. However, the use of Chinese CCTV cameras in the UK has been a growing source of security concerns in recent years.

Around the end of last year, the British government banned the use of Chinese surveillance cameras in sensitive buildings due to security concerns. However, no law regulated this ban, so such devices were still widely used.

The proposed regulation was approved following the arrest of a parliamentary researcher on suspicion of spying for China. The researcher has since denied the allegations, but lawmakers have decided to employ a stricter stance on China.

The bill is pending the House of Lords’ approval.

Use of Chinese cameras among law enforcement

Biometrics and Surveillance Camera Commissioner Fraser Sampson revealed in his annual report that most police forces in England and Wales still use China-made surveillance equipment from two prominent Chinese companies, Hikvision and Dahua.

Sampson’s office surveyed all 43 police forces about the brand they use in drones, helicopters, body cameras, traffic cameras, and other surveillance types of equipment. Results show that 24 police forces use Chinese CCTV cameras within their buildings, 18 in external CCTV systems, and 11 for number plate recognition cameras.

“There are major security concerns with a lot of these cameras, both in terms of the technology they contain and what happens to the data that comes from them,” said Sampson.

Sampson believes that the Chinese Communist Party can force companies to hand over data collected from these devices in the UK.

“If you buy a system like this, you have to be able to trust the company you are buying from,” Sampson said.

In addition to spying concerns, the use of these Chinese-made CCTV cameras also poses ethical concerns. The two companies mentioned above are among several known to help the Chinese government monitor notorious detainment camps for the Uyghurs in Xinjiang.

Last year, Hikvision denied spying for China through its surveillance tools, saying the accusation is “categorically false”.

“Hikvision cannot transmit data from end-users to third parties, we do not manage end-user databases, nor do we sell cloud storage in the UK,” said the company in a statement.

Likewise, Dahua also denied the claim, saying it had been serving British customers for six years in compliance with all laws.

Should you buy Chinese CCTV cameras?

CCTV cameras from Hikvision and Dahua are still widely available across the UK despite the above concerns. If you’re considering installing a surveillance system and you stumble upon the products of these two brands, here’s what you need to know.

Chinese surveillance tools tend to be more affordable than their Western-made counterparts due to economies of scale and lower labour costs. However, cheaper does not mean low quality. Chinese CCTV manufacturers invest heavily in research and development, resulting in technologically advanced products comparable to Western-made ones.

For example, Hikvision CCTV products offer many cutting-edge features, such as motion detection, built-in alarms, night vision, facial recognition and more, for a price range of £60 per camera to around £300 for a complete set. With the same features, Western CCTV products often cost more. 

China is also the world’s largest manufacturer of CCTV equipment. As Chinese-based factories can produce large volumes of products, Chinese CCTV equipment is more accessible even for large-scale projects and businesses.

However, it should be known that in addition to security risks mentioned above, there are concerns that Chinese CCTV equipment could pose privacy risks. Malicious actors and foreign governments can exploit vulnerabilities in Chinese-made surveillance tools to monitor as well as collect and store data of UK citizens.

The supply chain and manufacturing process also lack transparency, so evaluating the security of these types of equipment is unfortunately difficult.

Marengo advises corporate and private clients which systems are best to install based on the nature of the their property, the nature of their use, and the overral threat profile. We review, design, and implement bespoke systems which are most suitable for our clients. We never accept fees from equipment suppliers and therefore act solely in the interest of our clients.

We integrate technical security systems such as CCTV, access control, and intrusion detection systems into a wider security plan, which may include close protection, residential security, surveillance, and static guarding.

If you are unsure which CCTV system is the best for you, you can consult security companies like Marengo. They can help find the right equipment for your needs and even create a security plan to complement your surveillance system.