With the crime rates soaring up high, it has become the need of the hour to be concerned by security. Home owners and business persons alleviate this concern by having security systems like CCTV cameras, alarm systems, home security systems etc installed at their place of business or residence. And so has the government. To reduce the crime rates, the police department in every city is now coming up with CCTV security systems in many public and crime-prone areas.
Though CCTVs are not the panacea for preventing crime, yet many CCTV surveillance areas have reported low crime rates because of such system. CCTV systems have proved to be a deterrent for certain types of crimes like property crime and car theft in public areas. Though violent crimes specially ones involving alcohol are not completely discouraged with the presence of CCTV surveillance, yet the system is useful in solving such crimes and recognizing and capturing those involved.
Evaluation of CCTV Security for Preventing Crime
Security system provided by CCTVs, are evaluated as a tool for preventing crime with certain identifiers. This helps the police to point out where and when the CCTV must be used to provide maximum benefit. Some of these identifiers are:
Effectiveness of Law Enforcement Officers – CCTVs capture the recordings of the crime. The device cannot stop the offender from acting. However, they improve the response time of the officers to a crime scene. They can reach to a crime scene immediately. The CCTV operators can quickly assess the crime scene and determine the number of officers that might be needed there. Also, they can indicate what the offenders are doing at the crime scene before the police arrive. An early intimation of crime has helped the police to catch the offenders in the act of crime itself.
Time of Crime – In an example of car theft, if the offenders know that the security camera’s angle, range and speed are limited, he can play around with the security system and avoid the CCTV cameras. This could be a major problem in controlling such crimes. However, offenders were captured despite their speed in the act of crime. Also, with technology advancements, the security cameras are now with high speed and performance, making it is difficult for the offender to escape the eye of the camera.
Getting Caught – Areas that are monitored by CCTV cameras show less crime instances. The potential offenders fear that they will be recorded in the act of crime for courtroom purposes, and thus they abandon the idea of crime in such areas.
Publicity – If the areas with CCTV systems are publicized, the would-be offenders will leave that area and move to another area for their purpose. However, where the publicity is private, the offenders have the fear that CCTV cameras are monitoring other areas as well. This will deter their plans.
Thus, CCTV security has proved itself as a tool for crime prevention at various places, both public and private.
