CCTV surveillance systems play an important role in fighting and preventing
local and international crime. These closed circuit television systems were in
place in London before the July 7th bombings and this footage is being used to
identify suspects and investigate the attacks.
Besides fighting terrorism, CCTV security systems installed in public places
or retail markets can deter crime, provide the police with leads, help citizens
feel safer, and improve the economy of a crime-stricken area. Most CCTV systems
have now gone digital for improved performance, surveillance camera
maneuverability, and quicker feedback as compared to analog systems.
Implementing CCTV systems
Law enforcement or security professionals best support CCTV systems. These
teams of professionals need to monitor the CCTV video evidence on a timely basis
and they need to be properly trained in order to interpret suspicious behavior
caught on the system. When all of these factors are in place, then the CCTV
security system will be effective for keeping citizens and shoppers safe.
In the case of some municipalities or businesses not being able to afford all
of the necessary components of a CCTV system, many CCTV providers can recommend
a scalable approach so that priority security needs may be addressed first.
Then, additional surveillance cameras can be purchased in succeeding years as
the budget allows.
Digital CCTV systems and surveillance cameras
A modern digital CCTV security system consists of hardware and software
components that collect and transmit vital surveillance camera information over
fiber optic lines to control rooms staffed by security professionals and
equipped with digital CCTV monitors. An example of the surveillance cameras used
for reducing crime in LA's MacArthur Park include CyberDome DayNite 25X cameras
equipped with removable infrared cut filters, 25x optical zoom lenses, 12x
digital zoom capabilities, and 360-degree PTZ (pan tilt zoom) capabilities. This
MacArthur Park system also includes GE Storesafe DVRs (digital video recorders)
and GE KTD-405 keypad controllers. DVRs are capable of saving CCTV data to a PC
for up to ten weeks of recording and some even feature motion detection
technology, which means that the footage is only recorded when motion triggers
the DVR system.
Digital surveillance cameras range in type from compact, fixed cameras to
direction-controlled models that can see in the dark under various lighting
conditions. CCTV decision-makers need to know what kind of job each surveillance
camera must fulfill. Will it watch the flow of passerbys (fixed cameras) or will
it need to monitor a crime-targeted area (dome cameras with PTZ functions)?
These video security managers also need to consider weatherproofing their
surveillance cameras if the cameras are mounted in an especially hot or cold
climate, or if the viewing fields could be obscured by dirt or dust.
What kind of crimes do CCTV systems prevent?
Evidence has shown that CCTV systems mostly deter property crimes and
robberies, but not more violent crimes such as rape and aggravated assault. CCTV
systems may not catch these crimes because they may occur away from the
surveillance cameras in more deserted areas. Fortunately in most situations,
when a CCTV system is in place, criminals generally shy away from these
monitored areas fearing prosecution since these recorded images can be used in
court. As noted previously, in order for a CCTV system to be effective, the
electronic system must be used in conjunction with human know-how and skills and
it should be carefully integrated into existing security plans.
CCTV: Looking ahead
In the next few years, digital CCTV systems will evolve into wireless CCTV
systems that employ GSM (global system for mobile communication) or 3G (third
generation) connections. These wireless systems are completely portable and can
deliver live images to a PC, an Internet phone, or a laptop. The cameras are
tiny, but include many of the sophisticated features of full size digital CCTV
cameras. CCTV customers are also seeking IP-based solutions with LAN/WAN
delivery options despite some lags in the technology's image quality and frame
rate. "Make no mistake about it, the future is wireless," says Thomas M. Wade,
president of Samsung CCTV. "We'll be pushing crime-related images to police cars
in the future. Imagine an abduction or robbery in which the responding units are
seeing the video and the suspects as they are rolling to the scene. It's all
possible and it is the general direction of the industry."
There is also talk of linking CCTV cameras together to form a worldwide
network to prevent terrorism, but this international surveillance system would
cost billions of dollars and would require extensive international
cooperation.
