In 2010, specialist teams of video ID investigators identified 574 robbery suspects, 427 people wanted for burglary, 199 for grievous bodily harm and 23 suspected sex offenders.
The overall figure of 2,512 marks a 25% increase on the statistics for 2009.
Metropolitan Police Service detective chief inspector Mick Neville, who co-ordinates the Met’s video ID teams, commented: “We’ve had great success with CCTV this year. These are people who often would have fled the scene and potentially ‘got away with it’ had it not been for CCTV. There’s no doubt that CCTV continues to help us make London a safer place.”
CCTV is important to Neville and his colleagues when it comes to the fight against crime as it helps them to deduce what has actually occurred at the scene.
CCTV: a vital forensic tool
“While DNA or fingerprints will show the suspect being at the scene,” elaborated Neville, “CCTV will show the crime happening. It helps us to find other evidence or witnesses and assists the Court officials when assessing the sentence. Together with DNA and fingerprints, CCTV evidence is a vital forensic tool.”
Of course, CCTV is now being used in many other policing matters apart from criminal investigations. For example, in missing persons cases – and in particular those relating to missing children – it’s a vital tool in tracing people: it shows their last movements, gives officers an indication of where they went and what they were wearing. “In many missing persons’ inquiries CCTV has been extremely useful,” explained Neville.
The majority of CCTV cameras in London are privately owned, usually by businesses, with the remaining cameras belonging to public authorities (such as local councils), road safety partnerships and the police.
Using CCTV images for the appropriate purpose
While CCTV evidence is often brought into play in the fight against criminality, DCI Neville is at pains to reassure Londoners that the police will use footage appropriately.
“It’s right that our use of CCTV is checked and subject to strict guidelines and protocols,” he stated. “We only use CCTV to catch criminals, find missing people and to keep London safe. We don’t wish to breach the privacy or rights of people going about their lawful, everyday business.”
DCI Neville added: “While a large number of suspects have been successfully identified this year – and many of them with the assistance of the public – there are people who the Met still want to trace. We’re really grateful to the public who’ve helped us identify many wanted people. I would urge them to visit our Caught on Camera website to help us identify even more.”
The Met’s Caught on Camera pages contain images of suspects wanted for various offences throughout London. It’s regularly updated.
Visit the Caught on Camera site for further information (a dedicated link is provided on the right hand panel of this page).
Anyone who can help identify those pictured on the website (or any other suspects) is urged to contact Crimestoppers anonymously on (telephone) 0800 555111
