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Home > How effective are CCTV security systems at reducing crime?
November 16, 2005
By: Alice Osborn
Since the July 7th London bombings, CCTV security systems
(closed circuit TV) across the world have been examined with
greater scrutiny and with greater expectations for reducing
crime. Although not a panacea for preventing crime, many
CCTV surveillance systems have been successful at reducing
some types of crimes like property crime, for acting as a
deterrent in car parks or in other public places, and for
making citizens feel safer. However, the results are mixed
when addressing violent crimes and when the crimes involve
alcohol.
In the UK, where an average person may be watched 300
times a day by the prevalent closed circuit television
systems, numerous case studies paired with crime statistics
have been used by Britain’s Home Office to determine the
effectiveness of these CCTV systems and to see how well CCTV
saves time and money for their police force. In fact, from
1999 to 2001, the British government spent £170 million
(approximately $250 million) for closed circuit television
security schemes in town and in city centers, car parks,
crime hot spots and in residential areas.
Keys to evaluating CCTV systems
According to Coretta Philips of the Home Office Policing
and Reducing Crime Unit, CCTV systems are evaluated using
these identifiers which help police pinpoint where and when
the CCTV security camera systems are most beneficial.
- Caught in the act -- When potential offenders
fear being recorded by the CCTV cameras for courtroom
purposes, they usually abandon any idea of conducting a
crime.
- Publicity -- If the CCTV camera schemes are
public knowledge, then the would-be offenders may leave
the target area, but may head to another area. Home Office
data found that in the days leading up to the CCTV system
activation, crime went down due to the increased
publicity. However, if the publicity of the CCTV system is
private, then offenders may be more likely to be deterred
because they may think that CCTV security cameras may
monitor other areas as well.
- Effective deployment of law enforcement officers
-- CCTV systems increase the response time of police
officers to the incident scene before a member of public
has to call the police. According to data compiled in 2004
by the Home Office, CCTV operators can determine how many
officers to send to the scene and the CCTV surveillance
cameras can indicate what the offenders are doing at the
scene before the police arrive.
- Time for crime -- If the offenders think that
they can complete their crime before the CCTV systems can
record it, then the police will have less chance at
capturing the offenders. For example, if car thieves know
that the security camera’s angle, range and speed are
limited, they might determine how to best avoid the CCTV
security cameras. However, the Home Office CCTV data has
shown a reduction in car thefts in car parks, revealing
that some offenders may still be captured on camera
despite the speed of the crime.
Where CCTV systems scored well and where they missed
Although CCTV systems seem to reduce and deter property
crime in public areas, such as car parks or shopping malls,
CCTV systems aren’t as effective at stopping or preventing
violent crimes. Although the CCTV systems do help at
deploying police officers quickly to these violent crimes
sites, the offenders may avoid the security cameras, since
the security cameras are mounted in public zones, where
violent crimes don’t take place. In this case, better street
lighting may help to prevent such violent crimes from
occurring. In addition, when alcohol is involved, the
offenders don’t consider the consequences of their actions,
making the CCTV systems ineffective as a deterrent amongst
the intoxicated offenders.
On a positive note, the CCTV systems do reduce the
public’s fear of crime and they do ensure the quick
deployment of officers to the incident scene which gives
less time for the offenders to act more violently. To truly
verify if the CCTV system is effective, the law enforcement
body needs to conduct video surveillance evaluations over a
long period of time to weed out any inconsistencies in the
crime data. Also, if the CCTV operators are well-trained and
know the fastest way to deploy the police officers, then the
CCTV system will be more effective. CCTV systems are the
future for preventing crime, and as the CCTV security
cameras become more sophisticated, more offenders will be
caught and more crimes will be prevented.
About the Author
Alice Osborn is a successful freelance writer and
contributor to Video-Surveillance-Guide.com. Your
definitive guide to video surveillance equipment, CCTV
cameras and wireless security systems for home and business.
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