Many people might think that surveillance cameras help to control and reduce crime rates, but it is questionable how much they accomplish in this aspect. According to the Institute for Criminal Policy Research, there were 1.85 million closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras across England and Wales in 2008. However, Security and Privacy can be compromised by cameras.
Cameras are often thought of as the solution to solving crimes, but they do not solve crimes efficiently enough. Cameras can make it difficult for police officers to focus on certain details, they can record only limited information, and they may produce too much footage that needs to be reviewed in order to find vital clues about a crime.
Cameras are often known to be faulty, which could play a role in the fact that there were 774 proven instances of wrongful convictions in England and Wales between 1989 and 2003. One report by Big Brother Watch stated that only three percent of surveillance videos led to a conviction, while sixty-five percent did not lead to an arrest.
Because of the inefficiency in crime-fighting brought about by surveillance cameras, people are being stopped and searched in public sentences without good reasons. This may infringe on certain rights protected under common law. Furthermore, there is no clear evidence that shows when or if cameras have resulted in a reduction of violent crimes.
Thus, it seems to be a common conception that the benefits, if any, do not outweigh the disadvantages.
Benefits.
- better security- The presence of a surveillance camera deters crime to some extent and can be useful as evidence in court. The argument is that instead of having to depend on eyewitness accounts, which may be unreliable, the court can rely on video footage.
- better law enforcement- Police officers are able to monitor areas and activities more closely, leading to better crime control. The police can also obtain evidence from the footage for later use.
- improved response- Surveillance cameras aid in a quick response to emergencies and accidents, as police officers can be notified about a particular incident through video images. This helps them to reach the scene sooner and take necessary action.
- crime deterrence- The presence of surveillance cameras serves as a deterrent to potential criminals who may think that they are being monitored. This, in turn, lowers the chances of crimes taking place.
- cost-saving measures- Security personnel does not have to be stationed at fixed points around an area if it is fitted with surveillance cameras, which can reduce manpower costs for companies and organizations.
- wildlife conservation- Wildlife habitats can be better preserved because of the surveillance cameras that monitor movements there. If any illegal activity is detected, it will be easier to apprehend the culprits and take necessary action.
- prevention of crime- The presence of a CCTV system reduces criminal activities in an area or near an establishment; however, this does not apply to all areas and needs further study.
- improved public security- Surveillance cameras also help in preventing or reducing activities like hoarding and black marketing that can lead to public insecurity.
- reduced crime rates- The accuracy of crime data may be measured by comparing statistics from the pre-surveillance era to the post-surveillance/CCTV system era.
- reduced cost of crime- Surveillance cameras may be able to reduce or contain the damage. For example, if a security guard is monitoring an area by CCTV and notices that vandals are about to vandalize something, he can turn on alarm systems so that any damage is contained.
- increased revenue- Businesses, which are under constant threat of burglary, can benefit from installing surveillance cameras in their establishments to prevent break-ins and thefts. They may enjoy increased business (due to greater consumer confidence) and be able to recuperate the cost of installation.