CCTV presence in the UK makes people feel safe, but the images captured by today’s cameras are grainy and pixelated, causing difficultly with suspect identification. What solutions are available to address this?
CCTV presence in the UK makes people feel safe, but the images captured by today’s cameras are grainy and pixelated, causing difficultly with suspect identification. As a result, 72 percent of the public would feel more secure if Britain’s streets had high-definition (HD) CCTV in place rather than standard CCTV systems so that clearer pictures could be obtained. The findings in a survey by YouGov and Avigilon, a surveillance solutions company, show that 38 percent of people feel safe in areas where they know CCTV is being used because it acts as a deterrent, and a further 41 percent attribute the feeling of safety to the fact security forces can use the footage if anything were to happen. But the public’s perception of safety is potentially being undermined by CCTV systems that are not fit for purpose. According to IMS Research, 58.7 percent of the UK’s new sales of surveillance systems in 2012 were analogue. This fact was highlighted by consumer respondents, with just under half (48 percent) expecting images from CCTV in the UK to be grainy and pixelated where you are unable to identify people.
Other key findings show:
- recent high profile use of CCTV to capture suspects seems to have highlighted its role in society. Only 18 percent agreed the use of higher definition CCTV on Britain’s streets is an invasion of privacy, with just 2 percent seeing no need for CCTV in the UK
- when asked where they think it is important to have CCTV that can clearly identify individuals, 82 percent of people selected at transport hubs, 69 percent at football matches, 67 percent selected commercial buildings such as shopping centres, and 65 percent said public streets
- 51 percent think that CCTV plays a small part in identifying suspects and prosecuting criminal activity, but believe that it can be called into question over picture quality.
- when it came to decision makers whose businesses use CCTV, 41 percent said that the use of CCTV has provided peace of mind, but only 20 percent said they have been able to use footage for a prosecution.
Avigilon stated the use of CCTV today is seen as a key asset by the public, but many are quick to notice a difference between the pixelated images on the news and the quality they’re used to in their everyday lives on smart phones or HD TVs. CCTV does create a feeling of security for people, which is good, but how effective is the surveillance on Britain’s streets when it comes to clearly identifying suspects. More can be done to increase security. At the moment manufacturer’s figures estimate less than one in ten CCTV cameras in the UK are HD, according to Avigilon.