CCTV

UK
Number
-The number of CCTV in London is estimated around 500,000.
-The total number of cameras in UK is around 4,200,000.
-One camera is for every 14 people.
-A person could be caught on CCTV 300 times in a day on the high street.
Expensive
-Between 150 and 300 million pounds per year is now spent on a surveillance industry.
-Growth in the market is estimated at 15-20% annually.
-Billions of pounds have been spent on kit, but the police don’t know how to use the images.
Technology
Night version, computer assisted operation, motion detection facilities, remote control operation, automated self defense mechanisms, excellent clarity of the pictures (ex. Cigarette packet at a hundred metres even at night )
Advantages of CCTV
-In the north-east of England, 27% fall in robbery and a 26% reduction in burglary over the last two years
-Once people know they have been videotaped, they admit the offense immediately. People save time and money from long and expensive trials.
Problems of CCTV
-After Dover Council introduced CCTV, car crime was down 87%, but public disorder and crimes of violence had almost trebled. Crime may be moved to law rent residential areas from high value commercial areas because a lot of CCTV is working on high street.
-Only 3% of crimes were solved by CCTV.
-Sometimes CCTV cameras was switched off, did not have a film in it, was pointing in the wrong direction.
-The majority of CCTV are operating illegally or breaking the privacy guidelines. According to Commissioner’s code of practice and the Data Protection Act, CCTV cameras must be visible with clear signs.
Public thinking
-72%...Cameras could easily be abused and used by wrong people.
-37%...Cameras will be used by the government to control people in the future.
-The loss of privacy is pointed out.

Japan
-Due to the trend of rising crime, security cameras are increasing as one of the crime prevention systems.
-Foreign groups of thieves, bad economic situation in the long term
-CCTV cameras are used in shops, bank, government facilities, high street, personal residence, etc.
-vending machine with CCTV cameras…23% crime reduction
-technology…Photo of a wanted person is now clear.