CCTV monitoring is used in homes and commercial properties to detect, monitor, and protect against theft, vandalism, and other issues. It can also be used for public safety and disaster management purposes.
A simple CCTV system consists of a camera (or cameras) and a monitor. The camera transmits its images to the recorder over a wired or wireless connection.
1. It Detects Crime
CCTV systems can detect criminal activity and provide police with vital information that can help them investigate crime and identify suspects. CCTV can also help prevent crime by detecting suspicious behavior or preventing people from accessing areas where crime is most likely to occur.
However, CCTV is most effective when it can be used to monitor crime in real-time. Ideally, this would involve CCTV being connected to an ARC (Analytical Response Center), which is manned by trained monitoring operatives 24/7/365. These operatives can immediately analyze the situation and decide what action to take. They can then connect to the CCTV system and view the footage that triggered the alarm to better understand what has happened.
The number of crimes detected can be significantly higher when useful CCTV evidence is available, especially for offenses involving a victim, such as theft from a person or drugs. In these cases, detection rates increase from around 2% without CCTV to more than 55% with it. CCTV is most effective in areas where good coverage can be guaranteed – car parks and train stations are great examples. CCTV can be more effective when it is combined with other measures, such as increased lighting.
CCTV can help with the investigation of many different types of offenses, and it is particularly useful in determining how an offense was committed. It can be used to show the sequence of events and to confirm or refute witness statements. In addition, CCTV can help investigators understand the motives of offenders and what factors might have influenced their decision to commit an offense.
There are few legal restrictions on the use of CCTV recordings of public spaces, and they can be given to the police without a warrant (Information Commissioner’s Office 2015). As a result, CCTV is often the only source of video footage for investigating criminal activity in places where there is no other recorded evidence, such as when an incident occurs at a railway station.
The British Transport Police, the specialist police force for railways, has recently added two questions to the electronic form that front-line supervisors are required to complete at the end of each investigation. These ask supervisors to rate whether CCTV has been useful and, if so, which factors were most influential in making it useful.
2. It Identifies Intruders
A CCTV system that’s accompanied by 24-hour professional monitoring services is a preventative security solution. Unlike traditional CCTV, which merely captures and records footage, which is then reviewed retrospectively after a crime has been committed, this kind of monitoring offers proactive surveillance with real-time escalation to keyholders and blue light first responders.
Upon being triggered, the alarm signal sent to your ARC (Alarm Receiving Centre) will be immediately investigated by highly trained operatives who will instantly view the footage that has prompted the response. They will then contact keyholders and/or authorities if a threat is discovered, and they may also give an audio warning to the intruder to warn them of their presence on your property.
Audio warnings are vital to the monitoring service as they can deter criminals from entering your premises. Burglars who are aware that they are being watched will be more likely to reconsider their break-in attempt – after all, nobody likes the idea of being caught on camera doing anything illegal, especially when that video could end up in court.
CCTV monitoring provides a comprehensive, preventative approach to security that is highly effective in terms of both deterring crime and stopping it from happening in the first place. The high level of resolution helps police to identify and recognize perpetrators, ensuring they can be prosecuted.
For commercial sites and homes, CCTV is a cost-effective way to protect your home or business from theft and vandalism. In addition, a domestic CCTV system can be used to monitor the comings and goings of family members, friends, and deliveries so you’re always in the know about who is at your door.
As a data subject, you have the right to access any images of yourself held by public organizations. You can do this by writing to the organization and stating why you need to see the information. For example, if you have been recorded by CCTV in your local park, you can write to the council who owns the cameras and request a copy of your data. In the UK, these requests are usually processed within 30 days.
3. It Prevents Damage
CCTV monitoring can help prevent damage to a business facility or building or its contents from both insider and external criminal activity. This is due to the deterrent effect that CCTV can have on criminal behavior, as criminals are less likely to commit crimes if they know their actions are being monitored and recorded. Additionally, CCTV can be used to monitor activities in high-risk areas of a building, such as fire-prone areas or locations that may be vulnerable to crime. This can also help protect employees and visitors to a building by providing reassurance that they are safe from harm.
Modern CCTV systems offer a wide range of features that can be useful in businesses, such as facial recognition, motion detection, and video analytics. While these are all great ways to enhance security, there is still debate about the ethical implications of using these technologies – especially in relation to GDPR and data privacy. The issue of how long to retain images of individuals and the responsibilities of operators are also important considerations when it comes to CCTV.
Another reason to choose CCTV monitoring is that it can help prevent workplace accidents. This can save businesses money by reducing the risk of employees getting injured, which can result in lost time and medical expenses. With remote CCTV monitoring, employers can ensure that their workers follow safety protocols and use equipment properly.
CCTV can be a cost-effective option for businesses, reducing the need for physical guarding on-site or replacing it entirely. Combining CCTV with professionally managed services makes it possible to achieve effective and comprehensive protection for a business.
Choosing the right system for your business is an important first step in ensuring that you have a successful CCTV installation. Once this is done, it is crucial to make sure that the network infrastructure is designed to handle the data transmission requirements and provide adequate connectivity for remote monitoring. Moreover, making sure that the cameras are mounted and positioned properly is essential. A good CCTV installation will use monitors that are the right size for viewing and have adequate resolution to allow remote operators to see clear and detailed imagery of the area being monitored.
4. It Deters Crime
The visible presence of CCTV cameras can serve as a deterrent against criminal activity. The idea that one’s actions may be recorded and used as evidence is enough to discourage crime in many cases. CCTV can also deter vandalism and robbery, as it is more difficult to break into a property with security cameras in place. The cameras can also be used to monitor employees on a retail sales floor, reducing theft and other misconduct.
CCTV surveillance has been shown to reduce crimes in a variety of contexts, but it’s important to note that the effectiveness depends on how and where the system is implemented. Studies that include CCTV monitoring alongside multiple complementary interventions (for example, improved lighting, perimeter fences, and signaling) have found the highest success.
Violent crimes like burglaries and rape are less likely to be affected by CCTV. This is probably because these crimes often happen in the heat of the moment without premeditation, making them hard to predict and anticipate. CCTV can still be an effective tool, however, because it can be used to identify suspects afterward. The terrorist attacks in Paris, Boston, and London all relied heavily on CCTV footage to track down suspects.
When CCTV is combined with a validated security firm, it can be a powerful tool to break down the open opportunity of crime even more. Security guards can be alerted to any suspicious behavior and then take the appropriate action to prevent or stop the incident from happening.
Residential CCTV systems are also becoming increasingly popular, with parents using nanny cams to monitor their children’s safety while at work. These cameras can help deter criminals from trespassing and can provide proof in the event of an incident.
Despite the benefits, CCTV surveillance has come under fire in some parts of the world because of concerns about privacy. Those in charge of the systems must be accountable and ensure that they are acting within legal guidelines. Ideally, these systems should be monitored by an independent body to ensure that they are working as they’re supposed to.
