CCTV - Nuisance or help?
by Beata Hato
Surveillance cameras are there for protection. People are supposed to feel safe, while being observed. We are being watched so we don't commit a crime. People can feel uncomfortable while walking on a hallway, where they know that they are being watched. The presence of CCTV cameras creates ambivalent feelings. It is a common debate whether CCTVs have more impact in security or in privacy. To which of the two does the balance turn? Where should the line be drawn? Why and when is it useful and reasonable and, thus, publicly acceptable to keep surveillance cameras installed? In several cases CCTVs are effective in identification of criminals and prevention of accidents on public domain. Other cases oppose to those, when the presence of such cameras caused harm, mainly by invading people’s privacy.
Protecting property
"The person from the security service who monitors those screens is allowed to use the walkie-talkie and let the guard of the shop know if some kind of crime happened or is about to happen." says Balazs Zoltan a security guard, who works in a mall in Budapest. A store owner has the right to have a CCTV network in his store, in order to avoid potential damage of possession and belongings. CCTV cameras are placed in common areas bound to deter shoplifters from committing a crime. However, sometimes surveillance cameras also uncover errors: "So we called the person who observes, and asked to replay the recordings in order to find out what could happen. It turned out that indeed the customer was right, and the employee made a mistake in terms of the number of items" - says Balazs. According to Hungarian federal rules, stores must post notes outside the entrances of stores that warn customers about the usage of video surveillance. In a department store there are hundreds of cameras observing the steps of thousands of people every day, even in hallways and corridors with no items to protect. The only thing that they produce is the recording of people walking on those corridors, presumably without the need to share that exact part of their life with somebody else. Nonetheless, often having surveillance cameras in stores is effective in deterrence from shoplifting. Several times CCTVs help to identify patterns and methods of the way that people execute shoplifting. As for store owners, possessing the knowledge on these types of techniques helps to prevent and, in the long run, reduce crimes.[1]
Protecting property
"The person from the security service who monitors those screens is allowed to use the walkie-talkie and let the guard of the shop know if some kind of crime happened or is about to happen." says Balazs Zoltan a security guard, who works in a mall in Budapest. A store owner has the right to have a CCTV network in his store, in order to avoid potential damage of possession and belongings. CCTV cameras are placed in common areas bound to deter shoplifters from committing a crime. However, sometimes surveillance cameras also uncover errors: "So we called the person who observes, and asked to replay the recordings in order to find out what could happen. It turned out that indeed the customer was right, and the employee made a mistake in terms of the number of items" - says Balazs. According to Hungarian federal rules, stores must post notes outside the entrances of stores that warn customers about the usage of video surveillance. In a department store there are hundreds of cameras observing the steps of thousands of people every day, even in hallways and corridors with no items to protect. The only thing that they produce is the recording of people walking on those corridors, presumably without the need to share that exact part of their life with somebody else. Nonetheless, often having surveillance cameras in stores is effective in deterrence from shoplifting. Several times CCTVs help to identify patterns and methods of the way that people execute shoplifting. As for store owners, possessing the knowledge on these types of techniques helps to prevent and, in the long run, reduce crimes.[1]
Unwarranted people can access – invading privacy
Surveillance cameras are placed not only in stores, where the purpose of the camera is to deter people from theft, but also in front of private houses (and in the houses), in schools, governmental institutes, post offices and on public transportation. Basically at almost any kind of public area. In other words, a person who goes to school or work in the morning can be trailed on his/her whole route, beginning with the second that he/she steps out of his/her door and arrives at the workplace. Sometimes, the existence of surveillance in public places remarkably invades privacy, thus causing serious harm: “I suspect the husband’s lawyers will claim it was an invasion of privacy that will cost him his marriage and Range Rover” says Marc Stevens, a media lawyer referring to a man who was seen by his wife when he was parking in front of another woman’s house. [3] This man was seen on Google Street View while he was doing nothing that breaks the law, living his life, doing his everyday routine. The CCTV was established in front of an entrance of the woman’s house, whom he cheated on his wife with. Other than that, everyone who went in or came out from that building was identifiable. Another example for invading privacy by Street View camera is the way how a camera is placed in front of a sex shop in Amsterdam. Street view captures clear images of all those who enters the shop. Even if those cameras are not being monitored live, as Google Street View can be reached and checked by anybody in the world, unwarranted people can check upon the most private deeds of us. Private moments were also catched at University of Massachusetts-Amherst where 32 cameras were placed in the campus’s police station that was supposed to record the interviews of the suspects[4]. Officers claimed that it could even record private conversations as it had audio features, therefore the communication between people was clear and had nothing to do with the interviewing. Thus it didn't meet the initial purpose of the installation of cameras.
Several times these cameras happen to overrun the boundaries in terms of people’s privacy, making people as well as their acts identifiable. Moreover, in several cases, the presence of CCTV cameras installed all over institutes that are opened to the public, led to even more serious issues in terms of privacy violating. In other words, sometimes surveillance cameras become tools for unauthorized people: the government of China installed more than 20 million cameras in the last couple of years. People are under heavy surveillance to a degree that the government raids and ruins citizen's life with the usage of surveillance systems. In China, CCTVs are even placed outside of the homes of dissidents. Observed people claim that the government destroys their life by these provisions.[5] Similarly, in 2011, a human rights lawyer lost her boyfriend, whom agents provided evidence that his girlfriend was with another man. This could happen due to surveillance cameras that were installed in front of hotels, which means that they could control who entered to the hotel. As it can be seen, the information that this footage gives is not used for preventing attacks. Rather, it interferes in civil's life. Similarly, in New York, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security use a system in order to detect activities that are possibly related to attacks. Thus – as they claim - predictions can be made. It turned out that these cameras also conveyed images of the faces of civil people and samples of small movements. The CCTVs are connected with a data center. This means that the captured signals and measures that belong to random people as well as the encrypted images are sent directly to a database at a secret location.[6] It caused a heated debate claiming that this activity and this type of use of CCTV cameras is an infringement on people’s freedom. Furthermore, in some cities, the number of privately owned cameras reached a degree that can't be considered a security provision anymore - it, instead, causes mistrust and fear: in a South London neighborhood they installed cameras that are connected to laptops of the police so that individuals are observable by policemen 24 hours a day. [7] According to people from that neighborhood, nothing had really changed in terms of crime reduction. In fact, the fear increased due to mistrust: "The council might be installing them with the best intentions, but the end result is a culture of fear and mistrust driven by a failure on the part of the borough and the police to have proper law enforcement in this area" says Alex Deane director of Big Brother Watch. [6]
Several times these cameras happen to overrun the boundaries in terms of people’s privacy, making people as well as their acts identifiable. Moreover, in several cases, the presence of CCTV cameras installed all over institutes that are opened to the public, led to even more serious issues in terms of privacy violating. In other words, sometimes surveillance cameras become tools for unauthorized people: the government of China installed more than 20 million cameras in the last couple of years. People are under heavy surveillance to a degree that the government raids and ruins citizen's life with the usage of surveillance systems. In China, CCTVs are even placed outside of the homes of dissidents. Observed people claim that the government destroys their life by these provisions.[5] Similarly, in 2011, a human rights lawyer lost her boyfriend, whom agents provided evidence that his girlfriend was with another man. This could happen due to surveillance cameras that were installed in front of hotels, which means that they could control who entered to the hotel. As it can be seen, the information that this footage gives is not used for preventing attacks. Rather, it interferes in civil's life. Similarly, in New York, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security use a system in order to detect activities that are possibly related to attacks. Thus – as they claim - predictions can be made. It turned out that these cameras also conveyed images of the faces of civil people and samples of small movements. The CCTVs are connected with a data center. This means that the captured signals and measures that belong to random people as well as the encrypted images are sent directly to a database at a secret location.[6] It caused a heated debate claiming that this activity and this type of use of CCTV cameras is an infringement on people’s freedom. Furthermore, in some cities, the number of privately owned cameras reached a degree that can't be considered a security provision anymore - it, instead, causes mistrust and fear: in a South London neighborhood they installed cameras that are connected to laptops of the police so that individuals are observable by policemen 24 hours a day. [7] According to people from that neighborhood, nothing had really changed in terms of crime reduction. In fact, the fear increased due to mistrust: "The council might be installing them with the best intentions, but the end result is a culture of fear and mistrust driven by a failure on the part of the borough and the police to have proper law enforcement in this area" says Alex Deane director of Big Brother Watch. [6]
Helps investigate crimes
Cameras in public areas are useful, either as a deterrent or as an investigative tool. Several times surveillance cameras offered proof, helped identifying missing people's last moments before vanishing and even perpetrators of murders. For example, 4 years ago a French student vanished in Budapest[8]. She attended a party with a couple of friends. After leaving the party nobody saw her or was able to contact her for days; none of her friends knew where she went after leaving them. Surveillance cameras revealed her route towards river Danube where the last footage proves that she walked on to the bridge. She never appeared on the other side. In another case the CCTV camera which was set in a corridor in a flat captured a resident killing a prostitute. It was possible to unmistakably identify the whole crime.[9] In other incidents, CCTV cameras that were placed in public areas helped to identify criminals. In 2012, by intentionally using a series of CCTV, the police could identify a killer thanks to cameras that could analyze the movements and habits.
Moreover, several times the recording of a public surveillance camera are useful in the investigation of murders. On the 14th of February 2013 a couple got killed in their house in Florida [10]. The camera that was installed in one of the neighbors' front yard captured a woman, walking with an item in her hand, towards the victims’ house at the time the murder happened. As the camera footage shows, after a while, the woman appeared again, but this time empty handed. It could lead to the identification of the person who was there by the time of the homicide. On the other hand, she could have been somebody who just walked across the street, doing nothing but walking there and coincidentally coming back exactly at the time when the murder happened. In that case, she can become a first suspect of a serious crime and if the police identified her, she would be summoned for a crime that she didn't commit thanks to a CCTV. Still, having this footage was useful to get closer to find out details about the murder. Relating to another grievous case, CCTV footage helped identify the killer of a woman whose body was found in a suitcase on a platform of the railway station, which was monitored by surveillance cameras.[11]
Moreover, several times the recording of a public surveillance camera are useful in the investigation of murders. On the 14th of February 2013 a couple got killed in their house in Florida [10]. The camera that was installed in one of the neighbors' front yard captured a woman, walking with an item in her hand, towards the victims’ house at the time the murder happened. As the camera footage shows, after a while, the woman appeared again, but this time empty handed. It could lead to the identification of the person who was there by the time of the homicide. On the other hand, she could have been somebody who just walked across the street, doing nothing but walking there and coincidentally coming back exactly at the time when the murder happened. In that case, she can become a first suspect of a serious crime and if the police identified her, she would be summoned for a crime that she didn't commit thanks to a CCTV. Still, having this footage was useful to get closer to find out details about the murder. Relating to another grievous case, CCTV footage helped identify the killer of a woman whose body was found in a suitcase on a platform of the railway station, which was monitored by surveillance cameras.[11]
Watching the public space
"Unlike open-street CCTVs, which targets the deviant outcast, speed cameras target respectable citizens. Speed cameras are about revenue, not safety, deterrent should come before entrapment. Speed cameras can cause crime/accidents and erode civil liberties."
~Roy Coleman, Mike McCahill – Surveillance and Crime, 2002
Some cases point to the fact that CCTV can be beneficial when it comes to describing an accident e.g. in a garage or parking lot. These cameras can effectively help to reveal who is at fault and who is dishonest concerning the accident. Several times these camaras are also useful in catching the moments of cartheft. [2] The whole event can be played back in order to find out to the truth. Another - if not the most common - reason for installing CCTVs in busy, public areas, is to control deviant behavior. However, with the widespread usage of CCTV systems that encompass cities, people are becoming subjects of a never-ending big movie during their daily routines. Are these systems effective in terms of protection when they leave their houses, or do they rather harm them?
~Roy Coleman, Mike McCahill – Surveillance and Crime, 2002
Some cases point to the fact that CCTV can be beneficial when it comes to describing an accident e.g. in a garage or parking lot. These cameras can effectively help to reveal who is at fault and who is dishonest concerning the accident. Several times these camaras are also useful in catching the moments of cartheft. [2] The whole event can be played back in order to find out to the truth. Another - if not the most common - reason for installing CCTVs in busy, public areas, is to control deviant behavior. However, with the widespread usage of CCTV systems that encompass cities, people are becoming subjects of a never-ending big movie during their daily routines. Are these systems effective in terms of protection when they leave their houses, or do they rather harm them?
Useful in child protecting
‘The community saw it as child safety, an improvement upon child safety and protecting our property against theft and vandalism and as well as deterrent.’
~ Ben Lang director of technology at the Novato Unified School District in Novato, California’[12]
Often, CCTV cameras are useful when they are installed in school corridors and hallways. It helps to deter intruders from entering the school. Also, it helps to stop misbehavior. [13] On the other hand, it invades privacy and can crate mistrust between students and school staff. Moreover, sometimes they are simply not effective. "So that type of crime could be displaced, but the other sort of crime which is very often drug or alcohol-related and is instantaneous and unpremeditated that certainly isn't premeditated still happens beneath the cameras today as it did 5 years ago before the cameras were put in." says a school teacher. Sometimes cameras are helpful when it comes to identifying kidnappers: the footage led to the identification of a kidnapper who claimed herself the mother of a 6-year-old-girl whom she took with herself from a school in Delawer County. The video tape footage could identify the clothing of the little girl and the woman who kidnapped her so that the parents had an idea on when and what happened with their child. [14]
~ Ben Lang director of technology at the Novato Unified School District in Novato, California’[12]
Often, CCTV cameras are useful when they are installed in school corridors and hallways. It helps to deter intruders from entering the school. Also, it helps to stop misbehavior. [13] On the other hand, it invades privacy and can crate mistrust between students and school staff. Moreover, sometimes they are simply not effective. "So that type of crime could be displaced, but the other sort of crime which is very often drug or alcohol-related and is instantaneous and unpremeditated that certainly isn't premeditated still happens beneath the cameras today as it did 5 years ago before the cameras were put in." says a school teacher. Sometimes cameras are helpful when it comes to identifying kidnappers: the footage led to the identification of a kidnapper who claimed herself the mother of a 6-year-old-girl whom she took with herself from a school in Delawer County. The video tape footage could identify the clothing of the little girl and the woman who kidnapped her so that the parents had an idea on when and what happened with their child. [14]
Useful in preventing accidents
Surveillance cameras several times are valuable in detecting irresponsible acts and in preventing accidents. Numerous times, the establishment of CCTV camera - and its effects - lead to a decrease in the number of crimes in public area. A research that was conducted on the effectiveness of CCTV-s in Australia says: "evaluations indicate that CCTV is useful in certain circumstances. A comparison of 22 evaluations showed that 11 found a positive effect (decrease in offences), five an undesirable effect (increase in crime), five found no effect and in one case the evidence was unclear (Welsh & Farrington 2002)." As - for example - it happened in February 2006 City of Columbus, the Ohio Department of Public Safety Division of Police installed cameras next to traffic lights. The purpose of these cameras was to make photos of the drivers who passed a red light. This provision forced people to follow the law. Therefore, surveillance cameras helped reduce the number of car crashes over the 6 years since they have been installed. Hence, the provision increased the safety on the streets.[15] Also, CCTVs are useful in detecting deviant behavior a drunken driver of a school bus was caught with the help from surveillance cameras that had been installed in the school bus. Furthermore, as a consequence of the presence of newly installed cameras, children felt the need to change their behavior and chose to stay seated as they knew that cameras were watching them thus avoiding possible accidents. “The bus is an extremely safe vehicle as long as the student is seated properly in the seating compartment…They (know they’ll) get caught if they walk up and down the aisle,” says Bob Riley, the executive director of the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services. [16]
Findings
We can never know how many and what type of crimes have been avoided due to the presence of surveillance cameras. The usage of CCTV cameras is ambiguous when they are considered as a source. As it can be seen, they are useful in several situations. However, regarding the question of where and how such cameras can be set, we should first determine the degree of invasion of privacy that they can cause. Also, the accessibility should be restricted to a certain degree, probably to use it more where it helps, and reduce it where it wasn't successful.
According to the examined cases about CCTVs, conclusions can be drawn. If decisions could be made on where to install a camera based on the findings, it is reasonable to install cameras in schools. This will helps protecting the children given that CCTVs are effective in crime prevention. For instance, the number of school fights dropped, as the students knew that they were being watched. As for public places, the presences of CCTV systems are questionable. Surveillance cameras installed in front of private home entrances or stores can be monitored by unwarranted people such as the previously mentioned Google Street View incident. Often, public cameras invade people’s privacy in several cases, by capturing personal moments which can be accessed by unwarranted eyes. As oppose to those cases, the installation of CCTVs and the deterring force that it provides lead to the reduction of the number of accidents and injuries. Also, publicly set cameras proved to be useful to find out true details of dimmer parts of investigations and in doubtable or suspicious cases.
Shoplifters successfully caught on camera:
[1]http://www.city-data.com/forum/dallas/1245891-fault-parking-lot-accidents.html
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1226093/Police-officer-tasked-catching-shoplifters-HMV-caught-camera-stealing-games.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTBjeTEawR0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I05lLJOTCCA
Revealing who was at fault? The accidents caught on CCTV:
[2]http://articles.ky3.com/2012-12-24/surveillance-video_35994971
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DaPNOWO4H78
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sz2OjiFLVo8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMfz4pCqPEY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4qMykwdxNo
Carthefts successfully caught:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZpDfqRvhA4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSOoNTSPdmA
Google street view - invading privacy:
[3]http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/2350771/Cheating-husband-caught-on-Google-Street-View.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fnx4HcW3BRc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utgHt_HaSEA
[4]http://www.securitymagazine.com/articles/82797-security-cameras-violate-privacy--say-umass-police
[5]http://www.npr.org/2013/01/29/170469038/in-china-beware-a-camera-may-be-watching-you
[6]http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2187602/U-S-Government-secretly-spying-using-civilian-security-cameras-say-Wikileaks.html
[7]http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1228876/Secret-CCTV-cameras-fitted-INSIDE-peoples-homes-spy-neighbours.html
Missing people last caught moments:
[8]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9uF9osAlva4http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HiBck13rpcA,http://www.news.com.au/national-news/victoria/jill-meaghers-final-moments-on-a-fateful-path/story-fndo4cq1-1226598588787
Crime investigation (killing people, suspects of serious crimes):
[9]http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1342021/A-killer-proud-CCTV-images-Crossbow-Cannibal-luring-final-victim.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WPcLI40r2k
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nuWeh-cDWuI
[10]http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/story/2013/02/14/toronto-slain-couple-hallandale-beach-investigation.html
[11]http://www.ndtv.com/article/cities/cctv-footage-released-to-help-find-killers-of-woman-in-suitcase-275492
Kidnappers caught
[12]http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/breaking/5-Year-Old-Girl-Abducted-From-West-Philly-School-Cops-186865992.htmlhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9rqjT3Yzsw
[13] http://www.channel4.com/learning/microsites/I/ideasfactory/webit/teachers/sites/cctv/viewpolice3doc.htm
[14]http://www.npr.org/2012/09/04/160551340/security-cameras-in-school-protective-or-invasive
[15]http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/business/2013/01/29/security-cameras-multiply-raising-privacy-concerns.html
[16]http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2012/09/school-bus-rides-from-hell-do-surveillance-cameras-help/
According to the examined cases about CCTVs, conclusions can be drawn. If decisions could be made on where to install a camera based on the findings, it is reasonable to install cameras in schools. This will helps protecting the children given that CCTVs are effective in crime prevention. For instance, the number of school fights dropped, as the students knew that they were being watched. As for public places, the presences of CCTV systems are questionable. Surveillance cameras installed in front of private home entrances or stores can be monitored by unwarranted people such as the previously mentioned Google Street View incident. Often, public cameras invade people’s privacy in several cases, by capturing personal moments which can be accessed by unwarranted eyes. As oppose to those cases, the installation of CCTVs and the deterring force that it provides lead to the reduction of the number of accidents and injuries. Also, publicly set cameras proved to be useful to find out true details of dimmer parts of investigations and in doubtable or suspicious cases.
Shoplifters successfully caught on camera:
[1]http://www.city-data.com/forum/dallas/1245891-fault-parking-lot-accidents.html
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1226093/Police-officer-tasked-catching-shoplifters-HMV-caught-camera-stealing-games.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTBjeTEawR0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I05lLJOTCCA
Revealing who was at fault? The accidents caught on CCTV:
[2]http://articles.ky3.com/2012-12-24/surveillance-video_35994971
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DaPNOWO4H78
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sz2OjiFLVo8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMfz4pCqPEY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4qMykwdxNo
Carthefts successfully caught:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZpDfqRvhA4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSOoNTSPdmA
Google street view - invading privacy:
[3]http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/2350771/Cheating-husband-caught-on-Google-Street-View.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fnx4HcW3BRc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utgHt_HaSEA
[4]http://www.securitymagazine.com/articles/82797-security-cameras-violate-privacy--say-umass-police
[5]http://www.npr.org/2013/01/29/170469038/in-china-beware-a-camera-may-be-watching-you
[6]http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2187602/U-S-Government-secretly-spying-using-civilian-security-cameras-say-Wikileaks.html
[7]http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1228876/Secret-CCTV-cameras-fitted-INSIDE-peoples-homes-spy-neighbours.html
Missing people last caught moments:
[8]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9uF9osAlva4http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HiBck13rpcA,http://www.news.com.au/national-news/victoria/jill-meaghers-final-moments-on-a-fateful-path/story-fndo4cq1-1226598588787
Crime investigation (killing people, suspects of serious crimes):
[9]http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1342021/A-killer-proud-CCTV-images-Crossbow-Cannibal-luring-final-victim.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WPcLI40r2k
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nuWeh-cDWuI
[10]http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/story/2013/02/14/toronto-slain-couple-hallandale-beach-investigation.html
[11]http://www.ndtv.com/article/cities/cctv-footage-released-to-help-find-killers-of-woman-in-suitcase-275492
Kidnappers caught
[12]http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/breaking/5-Year-Old-Girl-Abducted-From-West-Philly-School-Cops-186865992.htmlhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9rqjT3Yzsw
[13] http://www.channel4.com/learning/microsites/I/ideasfactory/webit/teachers/sites/cctv/viewpolice3doc.htm
[14]http://www.npr.org/2012/09/04/160551340/security-cameras-in-school-protective-or-invasive
[15]http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/business/2013/01/29/security-cameras-multiply-raising-privacy-concerns.html
[16]http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2012/09/school-bus-rides-from-hell-do-surveillance-cameras-help/