BENEFITS OF CCTV CAMERA How CCTV Aims to Prevent Crime A CCTV system is not a physical barrier.

It does not limit access to certain are as, make an object harder to steal or a person more difficult to assault and rob . This does not mean it is not an example of situational crime prevention. It is highly situational, and as will be shown, does have some crime prevention capac ity in the right situations. Although CCTV has many functions, the primary preve ntative utility is to trigger a perceptual mechanism in a potential offender. It seeks to change offender perception so the offender believes if he commits a cr ime, he will be caught. In other words, CCTV aims to increase the perceived risk of capture, a factor which, assuming the offender is behaving in a rational (or limited rational) manner, will de-motivate the potential offender.5 for this cr ime prevention process to succeed, two elements must exist: 1. The offender must be aware of the cameras presence. 2. The offender must believe the cameras present enough risk of capture to negat e the rewards of the intended crime. Consider the first element. If, for example, a CCTV system is initiated to stem a perceived increase in disorder crime in a town centre, the crime prevention me chanism requires that potential offenders know they are being watched. Evidence suggests that even though implementers install a system, have a publicity campai gn, and place signage, there is no guarantee the population will be aware of the cameras. In Glasgow, Scotland, 15 months after 32 cameras were installed in the city centre, only 41 percent of those interviewed were aware of the cameras.6 t hese findings are similar to other research that found only one-third of respond ents were aware they were within the vision of a public-street CCTV system.7 Not only are there limitations with the publics perception of the location of cam eras, the second element (the presence of cameras affecting offenders perception of risk) are not guaranteed. In theory, CCTV should provide the capable guardian ship necessary to prevent a crime, but this concept requires that offenders demo nstrate rationality in their behaviour. There is certainly the suggestion, and s ome qualitative evidence that potential offenders who are under the influence of alcohol or drugs may not care or remember that they may be under surveillance.8 this may be a factor in the reason CCTV appears to be more effective in combati ng property crime than disorder and violent offenses. There is a second mechanism whereby CCTV has the potential to reduce crime. The cameras may be able to assist in the detection and arrest of offenders. This cri me prevention mechanism requires that police can respond in a timely manner to a ny significant incidents identified by camera operators, and that the local crim inal justice system can pursue the offenders conviction. This mechanism will work if incarcerated offenders are prevented from committing further crimes within t he CCTV area (or other local area). Although there may be some initial crime red uction due to the installation and publicity of a new system, offenders may soon learn what types of incidents elicit a police response and the speed of that re sponse. The availability of local resources is therefore a factor in the success of this mechanism. The desire to catch an offender in the act is often the rationale behind the pla cement of hidden cameras, as by police in New Orleans.9 Undoubtedly CCTV evidenc e is convincing, though CCTVs ability to reduce overall crime levels through dete ction (rather than prevention) is less convincing and arguably a less effective way of impacting crime. For this mechanism to be effective, the implementer must believe arrests are the best way to solve a crime problem. There is some eviden ce from Australia that increasing arrests can have a short-term benefit, but the benefit fades in the long term without a more preventative policy. An important consideration in the effectiveness of a surveillance technology is the type of crime to be tackled, because this impacts the criminals ability to ad apt. Although a CCTV system may reduce the likelihood of burglary at a commercia

l location within the range of the camera, there is some evidence that drug mark ets can continue operation in the presence of CCTV by changing their operating p ractices. For example, at one location some offenders met and discussed business in the cameras presence, but concluded the transaction at another site.11 in oth er CCTV areas, however, drug crime that could not successfully relocate or adapt to the cameras was eradicated. Fake cameras have been employed in some instances. Poyner12 reports that crime w as reduced on public buses after the installation of both active and dummy camer as onboard a number of buses (indeed crime reduced on more buses than the ones f itted with any cameras, a concept known as a diffusion of benefits). It is there fore possible that fake cameras could achieve the same preventative aim as activ e systems. However, if users of the space under surveillance are led to believeth rough signs, for examplethat they are being watched 24 hours a day and an inciden t occurs, the misrepresentation of a form of guardianship may have liability imp lications. A third, more general mechanism by which CCTV may reduce crime is through an inc rease in collective efficacy. Welsh and Farrington13 argue that if residents see CCTV cameras being installed in their neighbourhood, this will signal to them a degree of investment in and efforts to improve their local area. They argue tha t this might lead to greater civic pride and optimism, and, as a result, lead to an increased level of informal social control among the local people. A counter to this argument is that overt cameras may instead lead to a neighbourhood bein g labelled as high-crime, accelerating the process of social disorganization.

Other Benefits A number of other benefits, beyond a reduction in crime, may be accrued from a C CTV system, including: Reduced fear of crime Aid to police investigations Provision of medical assistance Place management Information gathering Diffusion of benefits The following section describes these potential benefits in more detail. Reduced Fear of Crime Numerous studies have tried to determine if the presence of cameras in public pl aces reduces fear of crime in people who use the area. These studies, many of wh ich interviewed people in the CCTV area, have examined whether consumer buying h as increased in areas with new CCTV systems. The general argument is that the ar ea will benefit from a positive economic impact when people feel safer. The find ings are mixed but generally show there is some reduced level of fear of crime a mong people in CCTV areas, but only among people who were aware they were in an area under surveillance. Most studies exploring the perception of surveillance a reas found that less than half the interviewees were aware they were in a CCTV a rea. Reduced fear of crime in an area may increase the number of people using th e area, hence increasing natural surveillance. It may also encourage people to b e more security conscious. Aid to Police Investigations Regardless of the potential for a CCTV system to have a role in crime prevention , it can still make a contribution in a detection role. There are numerous examp les of CCTV tapes aiding in an offenders conviction. Camera footage can also help identify potential witnesses who might not otherwise come forward to police. CC TV camera evidence can be compelling, though issues of image quality are a facto r if CCTV images are used for identification purposes. If the cameras record an

incident, and police respond rapidly and make an arrest within view of the camer a (and the offender does not leave the sight of the camera), the recording of th e incident can help investigators gain a conviction, usually through a guilty pl ea. The potential to assist in police investigations may also drive offenders aw ay from committing offenses that take time, as they run a greater risk of captur e. Provision of Medical Assistance As a community safety feature, CCTV camera operators can contact medical service s if they see people in the street suffering from illness or injury as a result of criminal activity (such as robberies and assaults) or non-crime medical emerg encies. The ability to summon assistance is a public safety benefit of CCTV. Squ ires found that police are called about 10 to 20 times for every 700 hours of ob servation. Place Management CCTV can be used for general location management. The cameras can be used to loo k for lost children, to monitor traffic flow, public meetings, or demonstrations that may require additional police resources, or to determine if alarms have be en activated unnecessarily thus removing the need for a police response. Brown r eports that some police commanders claim that assaults on police have reduced be cause the cameras allow them to determine the appropriate level of response to a n incident, either by sending more officers to large fights, or by limiting the number of officers to a minor incident and avoid inflaming the situation. Information Gathering Cameras can also be used to gather intelligence and to monitor the behaviour of known offenders in public places (such as shoplifters in public retail areas). C amera operators often come to know the faces of local offenders, and the cameras become a way to monitor their movements in a less intrusive manner than deployi ng plainclothes police officers. For example, officers in one city were able to gather intelligence on the behaviour of individuals selling stolen goods. This i ntelligence was gathered remotely by CCTV cameras and enabled police to interdic t in an organized and coordinated manner.16 although intelligence gathering is a potential benefit of CCTV, the use of intelligence gathered from CCTV to contro l public order through surveillance is perceived by some to be a threat to civil liberties. Diffusion of Benefits Although rarely addressed in the research literature, there is also the distinct possibility that if offenders are aware and cautious in the presence of cameras , they may be unaware of the extent of the cameras capabilities. As a result they may curtail their criminal activity in a wider area than that covered by the ca mera system. In effect, this extends the value of the cameras beyond their area of operation; process criminologists call a diffusion of benefits. Unintended Consequences Although not discussed in the literature of companies that sell cameras, CCTV sy stems may also have some unintended consequences. These possibilities, discussed in the following section, include: Displacement Increased suspicion or fear of crime Increased crime reporting Displacement There are many different types of displacement. Instead of a reduction in offens es, you may see offenders react by moving their offending to a place out of sigh t of the CCTV cameras. This is an example of spatial displacement. The evaluatio ns in Appendix A suggest that spatial displacement can occasionally take place, butas is the case with the general crime prevention literature19the amount of crim e displaced rarely matches the amount of crime reduced. There is usually a net g

ain for crime prevention. In all of the studies evaluated for this report, there is not a single example of a complete displacement of all crime from a CCTV are a to a neighbouring area. In the evidence presented here, spatial displacement i s not the issue many people think it is, and in most of the studies there is lit tle evidence of spatial displacement. A CCTV system may also force the criminal fraternity to be more imaginative and to diversify operations. For example, researchers reported that in a London drug market the presence of cameras encouraged the drug market to move to a system w here orders were taken by mobile phone and then delivered, and as such increased the speed and ingenuity of the drug transaction.20 This is an example of tactical displacement, where offenders change their modus operandi to continue the same criminal acts. Even though this particular introduction of CCTV may not be seen as an unqualified success that the CCTV system forced a change in behaviour is p ositive. CCTV is likely to have forced drug dealers to adopt a less effective wa y of conducting business, resulting in a net reduction in crime. Increased Suspicion or Fear of Crime A second concern is the possibility of a negative public response to the cameras existence. In one survey, one-third of respondents felt that one purpose of CCTV was to spy on people.21 In other surveys, some city managers were reluctant to ad vertise the cameras or have overt CCTV systems for fear they would make shoppers and consumers more fearful. In other words, it is hoped that most citizens will feel safer under the watchful eye of the cameras, but CCTV may have the reverse effect on some people. Remember that the primary crime prevention mechanism appears to work by increasi ng a perception of risk in the offender. With their reluctance to advertise the system, some city managers may be inadvertently reducing the cameras effectivenes s. By failing to advertise the cameras presence, fewer offenders will be aware of the system and so will not perceive an increase in risk. On the whole, however, the public appears to be strongly in favour of a properly managed surveillance system for public areas. Increased Crime Reporting A third unintended consequence is the possibility that there will be an increase in recorded crime for some crime types. Many offenses have low reporting rates, especially minor acts of violence, graffiti, and drug offenses. CCTV operators are better placed to spot these offenses and this can actually drive up their re corded crime figures, as happened with narcotics offenses in Oslo Central Train Station.22 This is not to say there was an increase in actual crime, just record ed crime. This is a potential outcome, and you may need to prepare other people involved in a future CCTV system of this possibility. GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT WHERE CCTV CAMERA MAY BE USED CCTV systems help improve road safety and ease congestion CCTV systems for emergency services improve deployment. Video surveillance is us ed to provide guidance for resources at the scene of incidents. It is essential that the CCTV systems that emergency services depend on are reliable and provide fast access to archive video recordings. Control ware CCTV systems are used by emergency services in regional command cen tres. Many UK police forces also use solutions from Control ware for overt and c overt CCTV surveillance. CCTV is highly flexible and designed to meet specific r equirements, Video Management Systems (VMS) easily integrates with existing IP a nd analogue cameras, and external alarm and control systems. Emergency services benefit from high quality digital CCTV surveillance solutions that are low maint enance, easy to use, cost-effective and reliable. If you are planning a new CCTV system, upgrading an existing surveillance networ k or would like to receive our newsletter feels free to Contact Us. As road networks become busier and more congested real-time traffic monitoring s chemes are increasingly important for road users. Traffic monitoring can help im prove road network efficiency, re-routeing traffic when accidents occur and mini

mising delays. The success of traffic monitoring schemes is dependent on CCTV sy stems so surveillance must be high quality, flexible and reliable. South Dublin County Council uses CCTV systems from Control ware to monitor and c ontrol traffic. CCTV systems with Video Management Software (VMS) are highly fle xible and designed to integrate with existing IP and analogue cameras, ANPR and control systems. Users benefit from a high quality CCTV surveillance solution th at is low maintenance, easy to use, cost-effective and reliable. Security Cameras in Police & Fire Departments The security camera systems are providing police and fire departments with a lev el of surveillance and monitoring that cannot be duplicated with a VHS system. All recordings are automatically stored digitally with no VHS Tapes! Video is available to all computers on the network. Video files can be easily du plicated by anyone on the network. There even is a CD-Rom device that can put ev idence on a CD-Rom. The files can be played back on any windows computer. Shrivelling High Risk Areas Fire departments in California and other areas are now considering the option of setting surveillance systems in areas that at high risk for fire, and for good reasons. The cost for traditional forms of large-area surveillance, such as air patrol and recon, can be very costly. By setting up outdoor systems on lookout t owers, a department can minimize costs of patrolling these large areas. Police departments are also starting to utilize surveillance technology by monit oring selected areas within cities. By setting up cameras in high risk areas for crime, these areas can be monitored remotely whenever officers are not physical ly present, and officers can be promptly notified if they need to respond to sit uations. Security Cameras in Jail Cells The security camera systems are providing police departments with a level of sur veillance and monitoring that cannot be duplicated with a VHS system. All recordings are automatically stored digitally with no VHS Tapes! Video is available to all computers on the network. Video files can be easily du plicated by anyone on the network. There even is a CD-Rom device that can put ev idence on a CD-Rom. The files can be played back on any windows computer. Security Cameras in City Buildings City buildings are a hub of human traffic, even in small towns. A city building might contain tax offices, permit offices, police stations, courts and other typ es of offices. Sometimes city buildings can be the target of hostility from disg runtled citizens, so it is important to protect city workers, visiting citizens and the building itself; having a video surveillance system is invaluable in the effort to protect these buildings. Since many city buildings house courtrooms and judges, many criminals and those associated with them can come and go, which makes having a camera system a neces sity. Our systems can offer surveillance features that are well suited for the purpose of monitoring city building entrances, and detecting various anomalies such as unattended objects and face detection. So in addition to having security at the door, as most city buildings do, securi ty officials can simultaneously observe the various fields of view each camera i n the building s system has. This makes detecting potential safety issues much m ore likely, and ultimately makes for a much safer work environment for city empl oyees. Video is available to all computers on the network. Video files can be easily du plicated by anyone on the network. There even is a CD-Rom device that can put ev idence on a CD-Rom. The files can be played back on any windows computer. Video Surveillance Systems for Bus Stops Bus stops are places where people of all sorts are converging in their travel, a

nd for that reason have an increased potential for misbehaviour, whether crimina l or not. Having state-of-the-art video surveillance systems allows for clear mo nitoring of these bus stops. All recordings are automatically stored digitally with no VHS Tapes! Video is available to all computers on the network. Video files can be easily du plicated by anyone on the network. There even is a CD-Rom device that can put ev idence on a CD-Rom. The files can be played back on any windows computer. Video Surveillance Systems for Airports The reasons why an airport should have a video surveillance system have become i mmediately intuitive. Given the threat potential that airports naturally have, t hey require the best and the most state-of-the-art systems and features to ensur e the safety of employees and passengers. All recordings are automatically stored digitally with no VHS Tapes! Video is available to all computers on the network. Video files can be easily du plicated by anyone on the network. There even is a CD-Rom device that can put ev idence on a CD-Rom. The files can be played back on any windows computer. Video Surveillance Systems for Train Stations Like airports and bus stations, train stations are just another transportation h ub that can easily be the target of crime, or can give rise to volatile situatio ns. Some of the features that our systems provide are ideal for high traffic sit uations like those found in any hub of transportation. All recordings are automatically stored digitally with no VHS Tapes! Video is available to all computers on the network. Video files can be easily du plicated by anyone on the network. There even is a CD-Rom device that can put ev idence on a CD-Rom. The files can be played back on any windows computer. Video Surveillance Systems for Swimming Pools While very fun for both recreation as well as exercise, swimming pools can yet e dangerous. Having state-of-the-art video surveillance systems allow swimming ools, whether indoor or outdoor, to be greatly monitored. Of course this makes or much safer swimming experiences, and allows for the review of any incidents hat might arise. b p f t

Video is available to all computers on the network. Video files can be easily du plicated by anyone on the network. There even is a CD-Rom device that can put ev idence on a CD-Rom. The files can be played back on any windows computer. City Parks Camera Surveillance Systems Security Cameras are becoming more prevalent today in parks across the country. A park should be a beautiful place that is the pride and joy of the community wh ere someone can go to escape the urban stress and just relax, read a book, exerc ise, or walk their dog. Now though parks are becoming a hotspot for vandalism, d rugs, assaults, and other such crimes. A security system in your park can allow you to check in at anytime of the day a nd see what is going on. You can connect remotely from work, home, and now even on your smart phone! A security camera is vital in taking your case to court or finding a suspect of a crime. Our revision systems also come with great features such as the panorama view fea ture that allows you to splice together multiple camera views together to form o ne large clean shot. Another great feature is PTZ Tracking, which is able to tra ck a person that comes into the view of the camera and you can even configure it

to zoom in on the object. Video Surveillance Systems for Courthouses For obvious reasons, courthouses must maintain a high level of security and havi ng a system that can utilize state-of-the-art features can raise the level of se curity to an incalculable degree. Video surveillance systems can augment any alr eady-existing security measures in place, such as metal detectors, guards and ba iliffs to comprise a security arsenal that is invaluable to the safety of courtr oom employees and visitors.