Since the July 7 attacks in London, CCTV (closed circuit television) security systems around the world have been scrutinized with greater scrutiny and with greater expectations of reduced crime. Although not a panacea for crime prevention, many CCTV surveillance systems have been successful in reducing some types of crime such as property crime, acting as a deterrent in parking lots or other public places and making citizens aware feel more secure. However, the results are mixed when violent crimes are addressed and when the crimes involve alcohol.

In the United Kingdom, where the average person may be watched 300 times a day by the prevailing closed-circuit television systems, Britain’s Home Office has used numerous case studies combined with crime statistics to determine the effectiveness of these systems. of CCTV and to see how well CCTV saves time and money for your police force. In fact, between 1999 and 2001, the UK government spent £170 million (approximately $250 million) on CCTV security schemes in towns and city centres, car parks, crime hotspots and residential areas.

Keys to evaluate CCTV systems

According to Coretta Philips of the Home Office Crime Reduction and Surveillance Unit, CCTV systems are assessed using these identifiers which help police identify where and when CCTV security camera systems are most beneficial.

oh caught in the act — When potential criminals fear being recorded by CCTV cameras for judicial purposes, they often give up any idea of ​​committing a crime.

oh Advertising — If CCTV camera schemes are public knowledge, then would-be criminals may leave the targeted area, but may proceed to another area. Data from the Home Office found that in the days before the CCTV system was activated, crime decreased due to increased advertising. However, if the CCTV system advertising is private, offenders are more likely to be put off because they may think that CCTV security cameras can monitor other areas as well.

oh Effective deployment of law enforcement officers — CCTV systems increase the response time of police officers to the scene of an incident before a member of the public has to call the police. Based on data compiled in 2004 by the Home Office, CCTV operators can determine how many officers to send to the scene and CCTV surveillance cameras can tell what criminals are doing on the scene before the police arrive.

oh time for crime — If criminals think they can complete their crime before CCTV systems can record it, then the police will have less chance of catching criminals. For example, if car thieves know that the security camera’s angle, range, and speed are limited, they could determine the best way to avoid CCTV security cameras. However, Home Office CCTV data has shown a reduction in car thefts from parking lots, revealing that some criminals can still be caught on camera despite the speed of the crime.

Where CCTV systems performed well and where they failed

Although CCTV systems appear to reduce and deter property crime in public areas, such as parking lots or shopping malls, CCTV systems are not as effective in stopping or preventing violent crime. Although CCTV systems help to quickly deploy police to these violent crime sites, criminals can avoid security cameras, since security cameras are mounted in public areas, where violent crime does not occur. In this case, better street lighting can help prevent these violent crimes from happening. Furthermore, when it comes to alcohol, criminals do not consider the consequences of their actions, making CCTV systems ineffective in deterring intoxicated criminals.

On a positive note, CCTV systems reduce the public’s fear of crime and ensure rapid deployment of officers to the scene of an incident, giving criminals less time to act more violently. To truly verify whether the CCTV system is effective, the law enforcement agency must conduct video surveillance assessments over a long period of time to eliminate any inconsistencies in the crime data. Also, if CCTV operators are well trained and know the quickest way to deploy police officers, then the CCTV system will be more effective. CCTV systems are the future of crime prevention and as CCTV security cameras become more sophisticated, more criminals will be caught and more crimes will be prevented.

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