CCTV (closed-circuit television) is a camera system whose pictures go only to a private set of screens or recorders, not to broadcast. At a storage site it covers entrances, corridors and yards, so that activity can be watched live, recorded and reviewed later. It deters and records; on its own it doesn't stop anyone getting in.
At Wigwam
Our FAQ says: "We have CCTV systems, which are monitored by professionals". Several of our location pages, including Marlow, describe CCTV "with night vision across the facility", and say the system is monitored round the clock.
Our privacy policy explains why we record: "We collect and process CCTV images so we can fulfil our contractual obligation to deliver a secure self storage environment; to establish whether you are doing something that breaches your contract with us; and to assist in the establishment or defence of any crime or other investigation." So when you visit, you're on camera.
What "monitored" involves isn't spelled out: we don't publish whether a person watches the camera pictures live, or whether monitoring means alerts and recordings that are checked afterwards. How long footage is kept, and how to ask for it after an incident, aren't published either, so ask us if any of this matters to you.
CCTV vs site security
CCTV is one layer of site security, alongside perimeter fencing, access control on the doors, monitored alarms and an individual alarm on every unit. Cameras show what happened. The alarm on your unit is what goes off, and our move-in FAQ says that if it does while you're not on site, "our security team will be on hand to investigate". Neither pays for loss or damage: that's what contents protection is for.
Related terms: Site security · Access log · Individually alarmed unit · Contents protection
Related questions: Do you have CCTV? · Who can see when I come and go from my unit?