Why Does the UK Hate IP Video Surveillance?

When not destoying US oceans, the British can be reflective and quite self-critical. This is nicely demonstrated in a recent on-line discussion at Info4Security regarding the state of the UK surveillance industry.

It's a gloomy but fascinating discussion that compiles all the reasons why the UK is perhaps the world's leading laggard in IP video.

At the start of the discussion, Axis estimates that the UK only has a 5-10% penetration rate for IP video. The rest of the discussion breaks down the specific barriers, including:

• Legacy analog CCTV installations (not surprising)
• UK integrators are still 'frightened of working' with IP
• Security consultants too 'conservative', i.e., risk adverse, stuck in their ways (with the implication that they need or should be replaced)
• Manufacturers blocking the move to IP by mis-representing it (a la fear monger 'Dead'icated Micros and in contrast to USA vendor Pelco that seemingly wants to destory their analog business ASAP)
• UK Manufacturer: "We possibly oversold the benefits of IP more in the UK than anywhere else"
• People in the UK are idiots: "Look at the UK’s population. We have a low level of education here, and some generations have no understanding of computers and computing whatsoever."
• Family run security installers lack IT skills (though this is common in the US as well)