When it comes to protecting your home or business from crime, there are many different options for you to consider. One of the most obvious tools for crime prevention is the use of CCTV cameras. CCTV can be effective, but there are various aspects that can increase and decrease this effectiveness. Today we wanted to give you some insight to CCTV’s, there uses and the types of systems that are on offer to you.
What is CCTV, exactly?
CCTV can be described as an investment in situational crime prevention. It is designed primarily to alter the environment in which crime often occurs, but can also be used as a deterrent to stop a crime occurring. It is not to be confused as a tool that changes the attitudes and capacities of offenders, and that is important to remember. CCTV surveillance can increase the threat for potential offenders, as it is able to collect evidence that can be used in court of law.
How many types of CCTV systems are there?
There are many different types of CCTV systems out there, but these are best separated as ‘Active monitoring’ and ‘Passive monitoring’. As you can probably already guess, active monitoring refers to CCTV surveillance that is monitored by operators in real time, whereas passive monitoring refers to CCTV systems that can regularly scan an area and take recordings for later examination.
Does CCTV work?
Studies have shown that CCTV surveillance does work to reduce crime. However, results are very much dependent on other elements, such as geographic location and other measures that are being used in conjunction with CCTV. It has been proven that CCTV is best used alongside other general improvements to the area, such as putting up fencing or installing sensor lights.
What do I need to consider before installing a CCTV camera?
CCTV is clearly a great tool for crime prevention. However, what will work for one crime may not work as well for another, so it’s important to review the type of crime you’re looking to tackle. CCTV can have its desired effect in reducing vehicle-related crime but sadly it does not always have the same impact on violent crimes. You can increase its effectiveness by increasing the coverage of your CCTV, ensuring that there are no blind spots that can be exploited by criminals.
Has this article raised any interest with you? If so, please do contact us today for more advice and help on selecting the perfect crime prevention tool for you.
