usc-satunama.org – DO SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS REALLY WORK?
Are security surveillance cameras a deterrent against criminal activity?
CCTV cameras are widely used around the world – both in the public and private sector. For example, the city of London protects its inhabitants with over half a million cctv cameras…and counting. In new York, there are said to be over 4 000 cameras on bridges, in the subway and in tunnels whilst on the other side of the world, security surveillance cameras in Perth, Australia are an integral component of the authorities’ fight against crime.
From massive city-wide networks of cameras to a simple security system, cctv technology is growing in sophistication – with people even able to check on their systems using a mobile phone application.
The debate about whether or not cctv is an effective deterrent against crime is ongoing with both sides finding statistics and ‘evidence’ to back up their case – but the fact remains, that cctv cameras do provide peace-of-mind for many people as well as providing vital evidence in many criminal cases which enables the perpetrators to be brought to book. and for every person who welcomes the sight of a surveillance camera in a public space, there is another who resents it because they view them as an invasion of privacy. It’s a discussion that will always have opposing opinions, but the fact of the matter is that security cameras are here to stay – and they have proven their effectiveness in assisting the law enforcement agencies to identify – and in many case, to prosecute, the perpetrators of crimes.
In the UK for example, CCTV footage captured the bombers as they gathered materials and made a reconnaissance ahead of the July 2005 attacks – and provided police with crucial leads. CCTV in Perth gives us another example of how security cameras are effective in identifying criminals – recently a wild street brawl was captured on film and the six youths were identified and prosecuted.
Like it or loathe it, camera surveillance is here to stay – and it does seem that the benefits outweigh any downsides when it comes to crime prevention and detection.
