The debate over whether CCTV systems prevent crime, stop certain types of crime or merely displace it to other areas rages on and on throughout the industry and, indeed, the police service and society at large. It’s a debate that has been fuelled yet again – courtesy of survey results released by the National Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders (NACRO) at the end of June which offered some conflicting messages…
Of the 24 CCTV schemes monitored in town centres, across housing estates and public transport networks and in car parks throughout the UK, crime fell in 13 cases, rose in four of them and was completely unaffected in the remainder. So where does the truth lie?
Most industry commentators would say that CCTV can indeed have a real impact on reducing crime, but only if the systems themselves are used and maintained in the appropriate fashion.
There’s certainly no denying the importance of correct maintenance procedures. Not only must surveillance systems comply with the Data Protection Act and the Human Rights Act, of course, but they should also fulfil their main functions and objectives.
The deterrent effect on criminals is hugely undermined if proper system use is neglected. All-too-often this is what’s happening. In June, we heard the terribly sad news of a 60-year-old woman who was raped in a west London mental health unit. The case then became even more tragic when we learned that the police’s hopes of identifying the perpetrator were dashed because the in-house CCTV cameras had run out of video tape.
Lost convictions, wasted investment
Poorly maintained and equipped CCTV systems not only cost money, they also cost convictions. The police have said that, in 70% of cases, CCTV images they’d like to have used in court have been ruled inadmissible. Far too often the quality of the images – or the way in which they’ve been gathered and stored – disqualifies them from legal use. The police have also stated that criminals are far more likely to plead guilty when faced with the undeniable evidence of their actions captured on videotape.
It’s easy to see, then, that investment in CCTV systems – which can cost tens of thousands of pounds to install – is rendered worthless because the annual maintenance budget has been shorn. Some system owners may consider it worthwhile skimping on the maintenance budget and decide, for example, to buy low cost CCTV tapes. A decision that always proves to be a false economy.
There’s no such thing as a short cut when it comes to selecting such a crucial element of the surveillance jigsaw. Often, the images recorded on a CCTV system are going to be those taken from a large area, or possibly from a site with inferior lighting conditions. In such cases, the need for crystal clear images is imperative. With an inferior quality or worn tape, it will not be possible for the security team to make good use of such images.
Steps towards tape management
End users must manage their tapes properly. For each camera, you’ll need 31 cassettes (one for each day of the month). Extra cassettes will be needed to ensure a continuous cycle where tapes may be removed for evidential purposes.
All tapes should be used and then stored for 31 days prior to being degaussed and re-used. Speaking of re-use, no one tape should be used for more than 12 passes. On an annual basis, all tapes should be degaussed and disposed of in the appropriate manner.
In addition, tapes must be clearly marked with the date of use and prior history, while both the cassette and its cover should be marked with usage history.
Many of you will know about the audit trail, but do you realise its importance? A detailed audit trail will be required for each and every recording, and for the complete lifespan of the media. Data and time identities on the recorded image support this. Media should be made traceable – by way of sequential numbering, for example – to ensure that a log of all tape usage is duly maintained.
Audit trails will be required for all those tapes removed from a given site, while tamper-proof evidence bags must also be brought into play when tapes need to be transported.
In terms of storage, ensure that all of your recorded media is housed in lockable cabinets, and maintain a set-up whereby access to any recordings is tightly controlled and monitored. It almost goes without saying, of course, but remember that your CCTV Control Room(s) must be secure such that no unauthorised persons may gain entry.
At no time in the past has CCTV been more in the public’s glare, but support for the technology – be it analogue or digital – may well begin to wane if the basic tenets of CCTV ‘Best Practice’ are forgotten or discarded.
It’s not always the systems that are to blame. After all, we wouldn’t expect our cars to run without good petrol in the tank, would we?
