CCTV Failing To Catch Criminals

Eight images out of ten supplied to the police from closed-circuit

television do not help to identify criminals, according to a Home Office

report.

The report also says that the majority of cameras are not placed where they

can help to detect or prevent serious crimes or terrorist attacks.

Some cameras are now being positioned to catch motorists in bus lanes and

record vehicle numberplates. And many cameras in public places such as

shopping centres and pubs and clubs are designed to "monitor crowds, slips,

trips and falls" rather than criminal behaviour.

The report said that the use of CCTV cameras to generate income by

monitoring traffic could lead to their being used less for crime prevention

and catching criminals.

The National CCTV Strategy report outlined failings in the use of CCTV but

recommended a huge extension in surveillance by allowing police almost

automatic access to cameras run by councils, shopping centres and even small

retail premises.

The report by the Home Office and the Association of Chief Police Officers

said: "Anecdotal evidence suggests that over 80 per cent of the CCTV footage

supplied to the police is far from ideal, especially if it is being used for

primary identification or [where] identities are unknown and identification

is being sought."

It added: "In some cases the cameras' initial purpose has been changed or

they are required to perform a number of additional and conflicting tasks."

Although the report highlighted the crucial role of CCTV in investigating

terrorist incidents, it said: "The majority of cameras have not been placed

in positions which may be required for the prevention and detection of

serious and organised crime and counter-terrorism." The authorities should

consider placing cameras to cover high-risk targets such as key economic

sites, the report added.

The report said that the huge proliferation of CCTV cameras was presenting

the police with serious problems - in particular their capacity to recover

evidence and review tapes.

Many police forces had failed to develop the capacity to retrieve digitally

recorded CCTV footage, resulting in evidence being lost, the report said.

And since the introduction of digitally recorded CCTV, the owners of some

systems were storing the recording for only 14 days rather than 28 to 31

days.

The study also called for a new body to be set up to oversee CCTV schemes

and ensure there was a balance between cameras deployed for crime-fighting

and other uses. There should be a review of the location and purpose of all

CCTV cameras, it said.

(BMcC)