The Big Issue

The research was relatively narrow in scope, focusing on CCTV in public places. The fact that the projects covered were funded by the Home Office’s CCTV initiative meant that none of the thousands of successful private schemes were included.

The BSIA has welcomed the publication of this study, mainly because there has been a distinct lack of research in this area. The report clearly shows that, in those schemes where CCTV has failed to live up to expectations, it’s not because of any problem with the technology but rather the ways in which it has been specified, deployed and then managed on site.

According to the authors of the report, it is important that sight is not lost of the actual objectives of any surveillance scheme, and that full and proper consideration is afforded to the deployment of cameras, training for operators and how those operators will subsequently communicate with the police. If all of these elements are addressed, there’s no doubt that CCTV can make a very real difference to peoples’ security and safety.

The report also acknowledges that members of the public remain strong advocates of CCTV, and highlights the police’s enthusiasm for CCTV as it ably assists them with convictions.

Setting the study in context, there is already a recognition by people in the industry of the necessity to create an operational requirement for a CCTV system before rushing into any installation (and, once installed, to ensure that the proper processes are in place such that the technology can work to its best advantage).

The adoption of British Standard BS 8418 for detector-activated CCTV shows that the industry can respond positively when concerns are raised.