CCTV camera systems over the years have captured some defining moments in history. From the last images of the crew of the Challenger to the terrible images of 9/11, CCTV camera systems have been our silent witnesses to moments in modern history that can never be forgotten.
The question remains, however, if using CCTV camera systems is really worth it when it comes to documenting criminal activity. Of late, this question has been hotly debated in terms of civil rights and the effectiveness when it comes to evidence in criminal trials. There are statistics that support claims that the effectiveness of CCTV camera systems is lost when their presence is proven to not be very effective in reducing crimes in designated areas. On the other hand, however, there is also data that proves that a significant presence of CCTV camera systems curbs criminal activities and assists the local authorities in securing evidence for prosecutions and trials.
The truth probably lies somewhere in the middle of these arguments, carrying the weight of documented history that CCTV camera systems are not only effective in the solving of criminal cases, but are also a great asset for preventing the crimes from happening in the first place.
CCTV camera systems have always been more concerned with deterrence than with evidence collection. Red light cameras do catch drivers in the act of running red lights, but the reason they are there is not to simply increase the coffers of the city they are installed in. They are supposed to be making drivers think twice before breaking the law, since it has been well publicized that any driver caught will be paying some hefty fines.
CCTV camera systems placed in convenience stores were shown to have decreased the number of robberies in those stores by more than 50% in the first year of operation. Overseas, the United Kingdom has had more CCTV camera systems in place than any other country, including the United States. Studies concerning their effectiveness have proven that crimes in areas like city centers, public housing, public transportation centers and car parks have decreased dramatically since their installation. That is resounding proof that CCTV camera systems are an effective tool in reducing criminal activity everywhere.
While CCTV camera systems can be effective tools for collecting evidence, they are limited by their inability to capture audio as well as video. Under federal law, if sound is recorded by CCTV camera systems along with video, it is considered to be the same as a wiretap, and therefore inadmissible in a court of law without the use of a warrant for the premises the system was installed in. In response, many police departments utilize skilled lip readers, and still gain an accurate deposition concerning incriminating spoken evidence.
CCTV camera systems are used all over the world in police investigations. In Canada, more than 70% of all bank robberies and other commercial crimes have been captured using CCTV camera systems. Anyone who regularly watches the local or national news has already learned just how effective CCTV camera systems can be when it comes to kidnapping and missing person cases. The evidence of their effectiveness just keeps growing.
The controversy stems from the fear of a Big Brother society coming into vogue. This cannot be further from the truth. Evidence collected for decades shows just how effective CCTV camera systems can be against crime. Besides protecting individual properties, they have the ability to insure that entire cities can be made safer by their use. To do without them would be madness.
