A UK-based CCTV installation company has called on the Home Office to make CCTV mandatory in all new businesses and homes.
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The startling plea is based on evidence taken from the Home Office’s 2012 Commercial Victimisation Survey. A spokesperson for cctv.co.uk, which set up a petition to the Home Office (so far signed by ten people), said:
The installation of CCTV cameras should be mandatory in all new domestic and commercial premises. Just like the pro-active care initiatives in the NHS — deterring crime before it happens and setting new standards in CCTV footage will lead to huge savings for the Police long-term.
The website goes on to claim that if video surveillance was installed properly as standard then estates and industrial areas with camera coverage would become “virtual no-go” areas for criminals, and that such an initiative would also “bring down the fear of crime” in the public.
Crime ‘epidemic’ myth
The company also claims that crime in the UK is at “epidemic levels” despite the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics estimating that crime in England and Wales in the year ending June 2013 has fallen by 7% and is now the lowest in the history of the annual crime survey, which has been carried out every year since 1981.
The Home Office’s crime against businesses survey was published at the start of 2013, based on interviews of 4,017 business premises in the manufacturing, wholesale and retail, transportation and storage, and accommodation and food industry sectors.
Across all four sectors there were an estimated 9.2 million crimes, which works out at a staggering 15.5 incidents for every business premises in England and Wales. However the majority of these (4.1 million) were shoplifting incidents, carried out in premises that are typically equipped with video surveillance. cctv.co.uk asserts that fitting video surveillance cameras in homes and business as standard will virtually pay for itself as the cost of policing falls, but this would appear to be untrue, given that the Home Office continues to explain that 47% of all crime against business is theft by customers, with an average cost of just GB pound 35.
When a video surveillance distributor calls for mandatory installations of video surveillance eyebrows are always likely to be raised, but to additionally try to justify this with flawed representations of crime figures seems reckless. In addition, the Government’s stance on video surveillance has been made clear in the past 12 months with the new CCTV Commissioner stating that they are seeking a culture of “surveillance by consent.” With this in mind, it would surely never back a call for mandatory video surveillance.
However, it’s an interesting question. What do you think? Should new business and housing developments be covered by surveillance as standard?
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Wo-o-o-a-a-h-h! Hold your horses here! We do know that over 90% of CCTV observed by CameraWatch break data protection legislation – the standard and law covering CCTV in the UK. And you know what the first question you need to ask yourself when thinking of installing CCTV? “Is CCTV really needed or are there other alternatives?” And the second question is – if CCTV is definitely needed, then “What is the CCTV to be used for?” Because you need to know that to register the system if in commercial premises and include it also in the appropriate signage. And how… Read more »
It is obvious the installers will push for extra CCTV. But this is a concern, there is often a fight security managers have against installing CCTV: the business thinks it will solve all problems, their expectations are raised, it is expensive and isn’t a ‘solve all’ solution.
It’s pretty crazy, no? What they are calling for is a full on re-write of the data protection act, as well as new laws to force people to install cameras they don’t want or need. Pretty full on.
Well I say, hold on to your serious comments. This is basically a very good PR exercise… wish I’d thought of it!
I am not a PR person but I had thought that public relations was about getting a message across.
Can I just ask what is the message that you see coming from this ” very good PR exercise” ?
I meant it to be the fact that it gets people talking about the brand – good or bad. The more controversial the more response… just syaing. Doesn’t mean I agree with the proposed topic, but it would capture the installers eyes, which is their target audience. I don’t know the guys at the company, but I read this a not a very serious story, but starts a buzz. Sometimes negative PR is the best PR…
Sorry to be the bearer of Bah Humbug especially at this time of the year but I’m afraid that this type of approach to sell CCTV does not help the industry. One of the reasons why there is so much suspicion and “Big Brother” stories is because CCTV has been installed wherever and whenever it can be – virtually with total disregard to legal requirements. I accept that some negative PR can be seen as good PR (mainly by PR companies) but this could be very negative to the reputation of CCTV. We should be doing everything we can to… Read more »
I agree with you, but I wouldn’t think this is going to make headline public news. I’m not taking it seriously & doubt others will
Bad PR for the company in my opinion. A CCTV company suggesting CCTV should be everywhere? Oh dear, bad idea, I’m surprised 10 people have signed it, hopefully not many more will and it will fizzle out before becoming bigger news and giving us all a bad name!
It’s not going to be a headline and it’s not going on the front page, but I assume the publicity generated will drum a bit of business.
This is a scenario that is becoming more common nowadays. What’s missing in the picture? Communication. Once everyone knows what to expecs, lets the tech know, lets the higher ups know about the budgets, then msot of these problems can be eliminated.
You’re right Vicky. I only recently learnt that a lot of the negative stories about the first Grand Theft Auto game turning kids to violence were actually planted by Max Clifford’s PR company. And look how that worked out. I was aware writing this that any PR is PR, but I equally wanted to share the story, quite a toss up.
Yes, doesn’t seem to be racking up the signatories. But as we know, even if thousands signed, the Government would not legislate on something like this. Not this Government anyway…