Cctv Essay

Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) is a surveillance technology comprising of networks of cameras and various components dedicated to recording, transmitting and monitoring video images (La Vigne, Lowry, Markman, & Dwyer, 2011). There has been a significant increase in the use of CCTV to prevent crimes and monitor public spaces over the past decade throughout many western countries. There are several countries that have large scale CCTV programs in place such as Australia, Germany, Japan, Norway, and Sweden. Approximately 4.2 million CCTV surveillance cameras are used in the United Kingdom to monitor public spaces. (Dickenson, 2012). It is reported that approximately 300 times per day a Briton is caught on camera (Welsh and Farrington, 2007).

CCTV seeks to reduce property crimes such as armed robbery, pick pocketing and the breaking into cars by increasing perception among potential offenders (vandals, petty thieves and armed robbers). Thus, in order for the CCTV to be fully effective, the potential offender must be aware of the presence of the camera(s) which increases perceived risk. CCTV prevents property crimes by several means such as the anticipated shaming associated with being caught in the act on camera (Gills, & Spriggs, 2005) and Nosyparker or natural surveillance which encourages other persons to visit these monitored places (Welsh, & Farrington, 2002). Also, the implementation of CCTV allows for effective deployment of security personnel to the correct location of suspicious behaviours (Welsh and Farrington, 2007) by incorporating formal surveillance in which persons are employed to monitor the CCTV (Dekker, 2015). Therefore, the implementation of CCTV in public places prevent property crimes by increasing perceived risk, since it is proposed that less crimes would be committed in areas with an abundance of potential witnesses (Welsh et al,

The presence of police officers and security officers may also prevent potential offenders from committing criminal acts (Dickenson, 2012). CCTV will also shorten the time the security personnel will take to locate the potential offenders and thus limits the time the perpetrator has to commit the crime and also get away. The rapid response of the security personnel may deter offenders or may mean that the offenders may get caught in act (Ratcliffe et al, 2009).

The implementation of CCTV in public places can prevent property crimes by increasing perception of being caught through natural surveillance, formal surveillance and through shaming. It was found that property crimes were reduced by 23% in the area under examination by CCTV in a study of San Francisco (Dickinson, 2012). This causes the potential offender to assess the situation, that is determine if the outcome is worth the gain before committing the act (Dwyer et al,