Technology as Aid to Crime Prevention

Reina Karla L. Gerez

2012-0598

Technology and the Law

Atty. Romulo L. de Grano Jr.
Arellano Law Foundation
June 1, 2016

INTRODUCTION
Today the growing number of crime incidents is uncontrollable
because modernization plays an important role in its consummation. Our
government exerts effort to prevent crime whether in a traditional or in a
modern way, although westerners consider us as a third world country it is
obvious that we are in the process of introducing the use of technological
innovations which can be of great help as an aid to crime prevention.
It is obvious that improving economies can procure modern
instruments, technologies as an aid in crime prevention. This will lead to
confidence in investments by foreign companies, trusting that such will be
safe, increase in tourist arrivals and spendings considering that the place is
safe to go to and many other income opportunities so much so that the
return of their investments in procuring such instruments and technologies
are gainfully attained. In this light such third world countries would have
nothing else but to improve in their economic status and will lead them to
be at par with growing economic tigers

ABSTRACT
This research paper aims to enlighten the reader the use of
technology to aid crime prevention .The study deals on different
technology currently used by the government and private sectors in
crime prevention. The research will provide the reader with variety of
discussions, based on an objective analysis of available publication.
The ten most common crimes committed in Metro Manila will be
enumerated and discussed. The innovations in criminal justice
technology and what the different government involved are doing will
be presented. Ethical and Financial issues in the use of new
technologies will also be discussed.

Definition of Terms
Closed-circuit television (CCTV) - also known as video surveillance, is the
use of video cameras to transmit a signal to a specific place, on a limited
set of monitors.
Crime Prevention- it comprises strategies and measures that seek to
reduce the risk of crimes occurring, and their potential harmful effects on
individuals and society, including fear of crime, by intervening to influence
their multiple causes.
Crime - is an act committed or omitted in violation of law forbidding or
commanding it.
Dashboard- equipment that is installed on the dashboards center console.
Index crimes-involves crime against persons such as murder, homicide,
physical injury and rape, and crimes against property such as robbery,
theft, carnapping/carjacking and cattle rustling.
Non-index crimes - violations of special laws such as illegal logging or local
ordinances.

Review of Related Literature

On August 31, 1994 during the presidency of Fidel V. Ramos
Proclamation No. 461 declaring the first week of September of every year
as the National Crime Prevention Week under the auspices of the National
Police Commission, in the observance was passed
The Department of the Interior and Local Government was vested as
the lead agency in drawing up plans, programs, and activities in the
observance of the National Crime Prevention Week. This is with the active
involvement of the Department of Education, Culture and Sports, the
National Police Commission, the Peace and Order Councils, the Office of
the Press Secretary, and the Public Information Agency.
As defined by 2002 United Nations Guidelines for the Prevention of
Crime, it comprises strategies and measures that seek to reduce the risk of
crimes occurring, and their potential harmful effects on individuals and
society, including fear of crime, by intervening to influence their multiple
causes.
A crime is an act committed or omitted in violation of law forbidding or
commanding it and for which a punishment is imposed upon conviction. In
the Philippines the Revised Penal Code ( Republic Act No. 3815) serves as
the basic law that defines criminal offenses and provides the penalties for
the commission of such.

The State has the authority, under its police

power, to define and punish crimes and to lay down the rules of criminal
procedure. States, as a part of their police power, have a large measure of
discretion in creating and defining criminal offense.

For statistical purposes and to create a standardized definition of

crime classification, crime is further divided into index and non-index
crimes. Index crimes, as defined by the Philippine National Police (PNP),
involve crimes against persons such as murder, homicide, physical injury
and rape,

and crimes against property such as robbery, theft,

carnapping/carjacking and cattle rustling. Non-index crimes, on the other

hand, are violations of special laws such as illegal logging or local
ordinances.
Organized crime has grown more structured and complex, and
guileful criminals are utilizing new technologies. More often than not, these
criminals experiment with existing technological toolkits or techniques in
order to develop a satisfactory modus operandi a pattern used by
criminals to commit crime - that will give them edge over their intended
target.
On its website, the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO)
posted the top 10 most common crimes committed in Metro Manila.These
are:
1.

Sneaky Office Intruders

- These thieves prey on workplaces with little or no security. They

usually attack during lunch hour or the afternoon break when employees
leave their desks.They may take on different disguises like posing as an
employees friend, visitor, or as a messenger complete with a visitors
pass. They target valuables like mobile phones, cash, laptops and credit
cards.

2.

ATM (automated teller machine) Scams

-ATM scammers have become more technology-savvy through the

years. They use magnetic rulers to trap money, surveillance cameras and
external keypads to get PINs (personal identification numbers), and
scheme machines to read ATM card information.
3.

The Zesto Gang

-Not as visible anymore as they were years ago, the Zesto Gang

members prey on bus passengers through quick tactics of distraction,

confusion and intimidation.A Zesto Gang member comes up to you in a
bus, with bills of cash folded lengthwise and wound around the fingers by
denomination

in

typical

bus

conductor

style,

and

asks:

How

many?"Thinking he is the bus conductor, you say how many people youd
like to pay the fares of, not knowing that the scammer is actually asking
how many juice packs youd like to buy.
4.

Airport Ambush
- Car thieves trail you from the airport and repeatedly attack your car

until you are forced to give it up.This scheme is usually executed before
dawn.
5.

Test Drive Threat

-Carjackers pose as buyers who will test drive the car youre selling

and later steal it at gunpoint.

6.

Condominium Criminals
- These thieves invade condominium or apartment units that are left

unlocked. Once inside, they ransack the place for valuables.

7.

Backstage Burglars
- Thieves can easily pose as aides, personal assistant or utility

personnel and blend in with the crowd.These thieves target your laptop,
wallet, or your designer bag. Once executed, they quickly leave as if
nothing happens.
8.

Salisi Gang
-Members of this gang lurk anywhere where there are people

malls, restaurants, fast-food joints, computer shops, bars, and clubs and
just waiting for you to get distracted.
9.

Dugo-Dugo Gang
- The scammers call and pretend that a family member has been hurt

and needs money.Then they pressure the helper into forcing open the
family safe, locked drawers to get cash and other valuables. The helper is
then told to turn over the loot to the gang members.
10.

Budol-Budol Gang
- Members of this gang can strike anywhere using their alleged

powers of hypnotism and counterfeit money.The gangs basic method is to

lure or blackmail their victims into giving them valuables or cash in
exchange for a bag filled with fake bills.

The Soft Technology and Hard Technology

The innovations in criminal justice technology can be divided into two
broad categories:
Hard technology innovations include new materials, devices, and
equipment that can be used to either commit crime or prevent and control
crime. We increasingly see hard technologies intended to prevent crime
the ubiquitous CCTV cameras, metal detectors in schools, baggage
screening at airports, bullet proof teller windows at banks, and security
systems at homes and businesses. Note also the use of personal
protection devices (tasers, mace, lifeline/emergency call mechanisms) and
ignition interlock systems with alcohol-sensor devices to prevent an
individual from starting a car while intoxicated.
Soft technologies involve the strategic use of information to prevent
crime (e.g. the development of risk assessment, and threat assessment
instruments) and to improve the performance of the police (e.g. predictive
policing technology, and recording/video streaming capabilities in police
vehicles). Soft technology innovations include new software programs,
classification systems, crime analysis techniques, and data sharing/ system
integration techniques.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) has started meeting with
various government and non-government agencies to expedite the
implementation of its CCTV installation project in crime prone areas in
Metro Manila. It is aims to maximize the effectiveness of the Oplan
"Lambat/Sibat" anti-crime drive. The project would closely monitor and
record all incidents in crime prone areas for the police to execute

immediate police action based on the live feed of the CCTVs and
recordings may be used in investigation and prosecution of criminal cases.
The CCTVs will have a direct link to the nearest police stations through the
use of Internet Protocol radio where police officers could easily track,
monitor, or capture all the incidents in the crime prone areas.
As part of their program, Department of Interior and Local
Government launched Project SAFE KAm, a crime prevention measure,
which utilizes closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras to aid the arrest of
criminals and deter the occurrence of crimes. The CCTV cameras will be
installed in densely populated areas such as the University Belt, the
Monumento area in Caloocan City, De La Salle University-Taft, MRT North
Avenue, EDSA Aurora, and Baclaran. Project Safe Kam also aims to
monitor the behavior of police officers and provide quicker and more
effective police response, he added.
The Local Government Unit demonstrate their support on this crime
prevention scheme through Memorandum Circular No. 2014- 119, an
ordinance requiring certain local businesses to install Closed Circuit
Televisions (CCTVs) in their establishments. They encourage the
installation of CCTVs as a requirement to the issuance of business permits
or permit to operate their business. It regulates the installation of such
device by specifying the allowed units to be installed in every establishment
also directing them to store the recorded video for atlest 72 hours.
Recently, the Philippine National Police (PNP) launched the Bantay
Krimen mobile application, a community-based tool in promoting crime
awareness, reporting, and prevention at the tip of everyones fingertips with

the use of cellphones or tablets. The mobile application was designed to

optimize the use of technology in crime prevention and crime solution. It
requires GPS location especially for its main feature of hotspot notification
wherein the user is notified if s/he is entering a crime hotspot zone. Also the
application offers other features such as :
1.) View Crime Incidents users can view crime incidences by logging in
and setting the area or location they wanted to view. They can view
information such as, address, modality, date, time, and reporting unit.
Call the Nearest Police Station this feature enables users to report
on-going crimes or emergencies to the nearest police station located
by GPS or they can manually select Police Stations by the number
provided in the app
2.) Hotspot Notification with the GPS on, users can be notified on
proximity of a crime hotspot zone. Users can set to turn-on the
hotspot notification, enable sound, or enable the vibration of the
device.
3.) Report Crimes using the mobile application, crimes can be reported
in real time and be displayed in the dashboard and map of monitoring
police stations. Reporting can be forwarded through the app or
through the web.
4.) Crime Reporting Dashboard the crime reported is stored in a web
database where police officers can monitor and respond to the
reported crimes. Aside from the database, reports are also viewed in
a map to rationalize the deployment of resources.
The Philippine National Police has released their report. According to
them crime statistics showed a decrease in both index and non-index crime

categories during the first six month of 2015, PNP Spokesperson, Chief
Superintendent Wilben M Mayor.Comparative crime statistics culled by the
Research and Analysis Division of the Directorate for Investigation and
Detective Management recorded a Total Crime Volume of 509,924 in
January to June of 2015 as against the Total Crime Volume of 602,449
posted during the same 6-month period in 2014.The Total Crime Volume
recorded for both periods translate to a 15.36% decrease.The summation
of all crime incidents where collated from three main sources comprising
the following: police blotter, barangay blotter and reports from other law
enforcement agencies (OLEA).
As a result of Project SAFE CAM month after 32 closed-circuit
television (CCTV) cameras were installed at Pasig Rotonda, Interior
Secretary Manuel Roxas II reported Friday May 29, 2015 that weekly theft
and robbery cases in the area went down from 50 to three to 10 cases
an 80 to 94% decrease.
For certain institutions, government agencies and social science
researchers, CCTV technology is deemed as an efficient and successful
tool for reducing crime rates within targeted areas. There have been, and
continue to be, countless studies devoted to proving this stance and
asserting the claim that CCTV systems are useful and at times the best
solution. Such studies suggest that CCTV systems have preventative and
reactive measures, revive business in desolate or poor areas, increase the
efficiency of the police force, build social cohesion, protect the private
environment of citizens and assure confidence and ensure feelings of
safety and security, thus leading to a more ordered and stable society.

Challenges on Implementation
The use of CCTV technology has stirred ethical concerns. These
concerns refer to the lack of privacy protection, the repression of individual
liberties for the greater good and mounting fears of insecurity. They have
stimulated the rise of rules and regulations which aim to protect individuals
rights and freedoms as well as regulate the use and output of information
captured by such systems. In several countries, the public has expressed
concern over the issue of how improvements in technology (increasing
places under surveillance) are detrimental to the protection of privacy and
personal data (Ruegg et al. 2004). Frances Commission national de
linformatique et des liberts (CNIL) warns of the dangers of CCTV of
taking away freedoms of individuals (Guibert and Langellier 2007). In this
case, there is also an absence of structures of accountability when it comes
to controlling, monitoring and assessing information from CCTV systems.
Fay (2004) suggests that there is a concern that authorities and operators
of CCTV systems may abuse it for personal or collective interests: bribing,
entertainment, court cases, etc.
The inevitable and continuous changing face of CCTV technology
suggests that surveillance is in a constant state of flux, in terms of technical
features, the publics reaction, its use and management by authorities, and
the nature of security. CCTV systems have expanded to facial recognition
systems, infrared devices, computerised databases to track people,
recording of sounds and voices (microphones), automated license plate
identification, cellular alarm communication, roving video surveillance,
unmanned aerial vehicles and wireless high-speed computer networks that
transfer images at faster rates and improved quality.

FINANCIAL ISSUES
CCTV technology is increasingly affordable and has been deemed
successful in improving the efficiency of police forces. Debates surround
the issue of the financial burden of video surveillance cameras and the
pressure to update such systems at an increasing pace. LemanLanglois
(2003) discusses the introduction of IP networks, which have reduced the
transmission costs and aim to offer more affordable prices to not only
developed nations, but extend the service to governments of low and
middle income countries. Heidi Mork Lomell (2004) suggests that CCTV
systems are not a replacement for the police force, but enhance their work.
In this case, such systems are most effective when they are used in
conjunction with other crime reduction measures (police patrolling, etc.).

CONCLUSION
We have opened our eyes on the importance of modern technologies
as an aid in crime prevention/ limitation. Several government agencies are

involved such as NBI, the AFP through the ISAFF, the Bureau of
Immigration and many others.
In my research I confined myself to the activities of the PNP and have
pointed out the importance of the use of technologies as an aid to crime
prevention and detection activities. With the numerous agencies involved in
crime prevention it is very important though that all their efforts shall be
coordinated to attain their goal. Among of this, are sharing of information to
limit time wastage, sharing of equipments and technologies to maximize its
use and limit procurement expenses, and proper assignments and
delineation of function to avoid duplication of activities and turf
encroachment.
It also just equally important to train and update people who will
operate the equipments to be used in these technologies because these
equipments will be constantly upgraded to cope up with the times so
maintaining a pool of knowledgeable technicians to be farmed out to the
different agencies would be ideal.

Bibliography
1. http://www.crime-prevention-intl.org/.

2.Criminal Law Eighteenth Edition ;p2; Luis B. Reyes; Revised Penal Code;
https://www.senate.gov.ph/publications
3.http://cnnphilippines.com/news/2015/07/17/PNP-chief-vows-to-make-street-saferreduce-crime.html
4. https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/238011.pdf
5.http://www.philstar.com/nation/2015/02/12/1422918/pnp-steps-cctv-installationsmetro-manila
6. http://www.gov.ph/2015/05/29/dilg-launches-safe-kam/
7.http://www.manilatimes.net/police-mobile-app-to-boost-crime-prevention/251063/
8.http://pnp.gov.ph/portal/index.php/press-news-releases/latest-news/2816-pnp-notesfewer-crime-incidents-in-2015
9.http://pnp.gov.ph/portal/index.php/press-news-releases/latest-news/2816-pnp-notesfewer-crime-incidents-in-2015
10.http://cnnphilippines.com/metro/2015/05/29/theft-robbery-cases-down-by-up-to-94after-cctv-camera-installation---DILG.html
11.http://www.crime-preventionintl.org/fileadmin/user_upload/Publications/
Assessing_CCTV/