CCTV: Closed Circuit Television
A small group of techno-head CCTV enthusiasts in Newcastle Emlyn seem hell-bent on imposing spy cameras on the town’s residents, tourists and vistors. The main justification used is that the 9 cameras might help to deter Saturday night/Sunday morning revelers and some others from anti-social behaviour.
So where is the research evidence to say that this strategy will work? Well the camera manuafacturers or installers are unlikely to provide unbiased information. How about the Home Office?
Assessing the impact of CCTV - A Home Office study in 2005 summarized 14 research studies into the effectiveness of CCTV. It’s conclusion states:
“Overall, just two schemes…can be said to have experienced a statistically significant reduction in recorded crime relative to the control area, and only in the latter it is plausible that the role of CCTV was a significant factor in this reduction.
“In short, it is important to remember that the characteristics of areas and the crime problems generated in them varies considerably, and the suitability of CCTV will depend, at the very least, on the nature of those problems, the presence of other measures, and the commitment and skills of management and staff to making CCTV work. The belief that CCTV alone can counter complex social problems is unrealistic in the extreme. At best CCTV can work alongside other measures to generate some changes, but it is no easy panacea, and there is a lot still to be learnt about how to use it to best effect.”
Anyone who thinks that CCTV is going to solve crime or vandalism in Newcastle Emlyn at a stroke is seriously optimistic or mis-informed. As the Home Office report states, the causes of crime and vandalism are complex and will not be solved by simply trying to video what people are doing in town.
How many of the crimes the cameras are expected to prevent are drink-related? The majority I suspect. Wouldn’t a first step be to look at how incidents are related to particular premises, events or opening hours and encourage the pub/club/bar owners to monitor and take more responsibility for the behaviour of their customers when they spill out onto the streets, full of the alcohol they have just sold them?
CCTV is trying to tackle the effects, when what is needed is to tackle the causes. CCTV is likely to achieve nothing more than be a long term financial burden on the “victim” businesses who will have to dig deep and pay for this expensive equipment of unproven worth.