Police Requirements Overlooked
Comments Off on Police Requirements OverlookedThousands of companies across the UK could find themselves unable to prosecute thieves, vandals and intruders – despite having CCTV footage of break-ins.
Thousands of companies across the UK could find themselves unable to prosecute thieves, vandals and intruders – despite having CCTV footage of break-ins.
Baroness Scotland has told the House of Lords that poor quality CCTV footage currently runs the risk of innocent people being wrongly arrested. She also added that "digital CCTV… will enable us, particularly when ID cards* come in, to identify those who are responsible for very serious crimes."
In the immediate aftermath of the 7/7 London terrorist explosions, and the attempted bombings a fortnight later, the police embarked on a massive intelligence gathering exercise. Their task was significantly aided by the presence of CCTV cameras covering the streets, Tube stations and buses targeted in the attacks, as well as surveillance systems covering the rest of the transport network in the capital and surrounding counties.
The argument used to be that the camera never lies, but when it comes to evidence that will stand up in court, even industry experts now say the 4.2 million cameras in the UK do not give the whole picture.
CCTV has come to be seen as a magic bullet, but its effectiveness can be undermined by everything from the age of the equipment, through the positioning of the cameras, to something as simple as the number of times the tapes recording the pictures have been re-used.
The best way to monitor and capture illegal activity e.g. shoplifting, is by using surveillance cameras, but what is the use of covert spy cameras if you have no monitors to see the view transmitted?
CCTV systems were first developed in the UK in 1970s. They used to be extremely expensive, cumbersome and had to be professionally installed due to a complicated electronic setup. Systems today are much more reasonably priced, easier to configure, and small CCTV systems can be installed by the end user.
A basic CCTV system includes a camera, monitor and recording device. Before settling on the specific components for your site, however, there are several decisions you will need to make.
Thinking like a thief is the answer if you’re thinking of installing a home security system for the first time. When looking to install a security system, the first thing to consider is to make sure it is well planned out. Look at the exterior of your house and note what type of equipment you would like to employ and where it will be positioned along with any other relevant notes.
The police and Home Office are to press for regulatory powers that will insist that every one of the 4.2 million CCTV cameras in Britain is upgraded so it can be deputised to gather police evidence and provide a vehicle for emerging technologies that will automatically identify people and detect if they are doing anything suspicious.
People can often be reluctant to install CCTV cameras because they believe it increases liability. Our experience is a camera system decreases liability since the owner is taking steps to provide a secure facility.
The Federation of Small Businesses has highlighted the tragic impact that crime has on shopkeepers across the UK. As more small shops are victims of crime, especially violent crime, people are losing their livelihoods, areas are becoming more deprived as jobs and facilities move elsewhere and consumers are finding their choices reduced.