Closed-Circuit Television and Security - Essay Example

James Longobardi Closed-Circuit Television and Security Prior Learning Portfolio – Additional Essay I have always found that one aspect that has a significant role in the field of loss prevention has been technology, and technology has always fascinated me. I grew up in the time that computers were just starting to become really popular and video games were common place for many children, myself included. Because of this, I have always been interested in the way that technology grows, changes and advances. Closed-circuit television (CCTV) is one such advance in technology that has changed the way that security functions, as well as having a strong impact on many different industries. As well as being used for in store security, CCTV systems are present at stop lights, movie theatres and hospitals, as well as police stations and public street locations. These play a range of roles including acting as deterrents for crime, helping to identify fault in a car accident, assisting in finding lost or wanted people, increasing safety for the general public, as well as helping to prosecute individuals who commit crime. CCTV systems are passive, and monitoring is not necessary, the information can be recorded and reviewed at a later date if a problem is suspected. This has resulted in the increase in prevalence of such systems across all different types of use, as they significantly increase safety and crime prevention without requiring a substantial increase in cost. One of my strongest early memories is of a conversation with one of my uncles who was explaining to me in detail a surveillance operation that his partner and he had been on. The equipment they had used seems dated and old fashioned now, but at the time it was the very best that was available. They spent hours sitting watching grainy footage on monitors with no sound, trying to determine what was happening. He said that sometimes it was difficult to know exactly who you were watching, let alone what they were doing. He explained that when observing someone for illicit activity one of the most reliable indicators is body language. He said that people often are not aware of the signals that they give off and the information that they let people know. Behaviors such as people looking around constantly, nervous tics, sweating profusely or going past the same area multiple times were all ways of determining that something was not quite right. For more than ten years now I have worked in the retail industry, and since that introduction I have substantially developed both my skills and understanding in the field of retail work and security. One aspect that has been particularly important, especially in recent years, has been technology. Within the area of retail security, technology has seen rapid growth with increases in complexity and discretion. Such technologies were discussed earlier in this portfolio and include factors such as closed circuit television (CCTV) and electronic article surveillance (EAS). This essay will examine the history of CCTV use, primarily in the retail environment. The legal implications of the systems will be discussed as well as the way in which both staff and members of the public view the use of such systems. While there is increasing concern that CCTV systems constitute an invasion of privacy, they have been instrumental in increasing public safety, especially in areas where accidents are common, or few people are present. In addition I will consider my own experience with CCTV systems, and how these have assisted substantially in the security at my store. The use of CCTV systems began in the 1940s, and early uses for the cameras were similar to what they are today. Primarily they were used in retail security, with one or two cameras used to watch people entering and leaving the store . In 1961, a similar set up was used at a London Underground Railway Station in order to observe the doors of the railway cars to ensure that there were no passengers in the way before the train departed . As a security measure, CCTV technology can be used in a number of different ways. Within schools such systems are often used to observe corridors and classrooms to monitor the behavior of students . Individuals and home owners also purchase surveillance systems in significant quantities, with sales increasing each year . Likewise, surveillance is common on streets and street corners in many different cities worldwide. This is used for a number of different activities such as looking for illegal activity, evidence of theft or for finding missing persons. Information that is gained through the use of CCTV can be used as evidence in the case of a criminal investigation or in the court of law . For example, in Britain, most public areas in major towns or cities are covered by CCTV cameras. The cameras are networked to one another and linked to local control centers. The earliest use of such cameras occurred in 1985, and currently the number of cameras across the nation is thought to be up to 400,000. The surveillance industry continues to grow at a rate of between 15 and 20 percent annually . Outside of Britain this trend is also prevalent, with billions of dollars being spent every year for surveillance on streets and street corners . However, care needs to be taken, as poor quality images are often inadmissible in court . Within the retail industry, the use of CCTV systems is not limited to observation of consumers. Camera coverage often extends to the employee only areas, in order to monitor staff for problems of internal theft and corruption . In my own line of work, there have been several occasions where a staff member has been caught by the cameras pocketing change from the cash register or stealing small items from offices. Having proof of their actions through the recorded images has proven an invaluable tool in confronting the individual, who for the most part was very apologetic. There have been no major issues with corruption within the staff since I have been working in retail, and I think that the CCTV system plays a large part in this. On one hand it acts to prevent problems, as employees know that they are being monitored, so are less likely to engage in illegal activity. In addition, catching individuals who are involved in minor crimes means that they can be either fired, or closely monitored over the subsequent period. In either case, the likelihood of a more serious crime occurring is significantly decreased. One of the most important aspects of any CCTV system is the security center or control center. This is a room which generally contains a large number of monitors, which are linked to the feeds from the video cameras. Within the center there are a number of operator stations, each of which contains equipment that allows the pitch and zoom of the cameras to be controlled (if they are able to be) as well as a separate set of monitors which the operator can send images to that he wants to examine in detail. The wall of a control center is normally covered in monitors, which operate in one of two ways. The first is that each monitor continuously shows the feed from a single camera. This is not always possible when there are a large number of cameras in the system, and as a consequence, a second system is often needed. In this system each monitor cycles through images from different cameras, staying on each feed for a predetermined amount of time. The amount of security staff that work in a control center varies depending on the size of the system, the number of cameras that are involved as well as the finances that are available for employing staff . Generally speaking, there is a large number of cameras per operator, and this can result in the operators becoming bogged down by the amount of information and unable to properly process it . In my own experience, I have found that one way of avoiding this is to watch the images almost passively, looking for behavioral signals that indicate a person may be trying to hide something. However, this is not always effective, and sometimes the only solution is to spend some time away from the cameras to get a clear head. An idea that has been theorized and tested is the concept of cameras with a level of artificial intelligence. It is thought that if the cameras were able to evaluate the images, even to a limited extent, this would reduce the amount of information that operators are exposed to, and increase the effectiveness of surveillance systems. This would involve coupling the camera to a computer with advanced programming that could interpret and evaluate the images produced by the camera. Although such systems have been implemented in some surveillance programs of public spaces, there is still much work needed to make them efficient and effective . Currently, one of the main problems that the development of intelligent systems is having is in programming the computer to recognize situations which require supervisor attention. There is a large range to human behavior and what is considered normal and is nonthreatening. Turning this information into a form that the computer can work with is difficult and the consequence at present is either that the computer will alert supervisors for almost all situations, or for none. Another suggestion has been to combine security cameras with facial recognition software. It is thought that this would allow for the automatic recognition of known offenders by the computer. Currently, the system for dealing with known shoplifters and trespassers at Best Buy is for a folder of images to be kept of all such individuals. Identifying these individuals in person or on camera can often be difficult, especially as there are a large number of faces to remember. As a consequence, I can see how this technology would be effective. However, a trial of such technology was run in Tampa, Florida, using a system of 36 cameras and it was found that it was ineffective at picking up faces. In two years of operation, not a single individual was identified . The use of facial recognition technology has been proposed for airports worldwide in the hope that this could prove a significant increase to security; however, at present the technology is too inaccurate to be effective. Homeland security has been working with airports in investigating the effectiveness and relevance of this technology . At Best Buy we do take advantage of one simpler method of improving the effectiveness of cameras. This is a technique known as redeployable CCTV, and is where the cameras in the system are periodically moved. This makes watching the cameras more difficult for the staff, as they have to learn the new set up, but it has significant advantages for reducing theft. It allows for the cameras to be moved to locations where theft is likely, such as items that are on a sale for one week . In addition, regularly moving the cameras prevents criminals from learning their locations and taking advantage of areas where they are absent or blind spots. The technology involved in CCTV technology continues to advance, and it is unlikely that this growth will subside. Currently, CCTV systems form an integral part of security for many retail stores as well as households and businesses. It allows for a large number of areas to be watched simultaneously, which would not be possible using people to watch the locations. Furthermore, many people forget the cameras are present, and as a consequence act in a different manner in front of the cameras than they would if another person were present. The skills and techniques of thieves continue to increase, and as a consequence, there is a growing need for CCTV technology to become more effective. Technology such as second generation cameras as well as facial recognition has the potential to significantly increase the ability to observe, although the technology still has a long way to go before it will be effective for everyday use. Effectiveness of CCTV Systems For any technology, especially in the area of security, it is only an advantage if it is effective and performs its role well. The main purpose of CCTV systems is observation and identification. They allow for people to be observed from a distance without the person being aware that they are actively being monitored. Although many people are aware of security cameras within a shop, there is no way for people to be know whether they are being watched individually, or if the image is simply being recorded unnoticed by staff. The system allows for both people and their actions to be identified from observation of the images. In retail, loss prevention is one of the main uses of the CCTV technology. This works in two ways. The first is that the identification of people engaging in criminal activity though the cameras allows them to be caught and prosecuted. Secondly, the cameras themselves act to reduce the amount of theft that is occurring. CCTV systems reduce the anonymity of people within the store, meaning that people become more accountable for their actions . Signs within the store, as well as the visible presence of the cameras themselves, mean that a large number of consumers are aware that they are being monitored. This further reduces the likelihood that theft will occur. CCTV systems are generally cost effective. Even though there is a substantial cost in installing them as well as employing the security staff to run the control center, this cost is offset by the amount of revenue saved through the reduction of theft . However, the level to which the system is effective is heavily reliant on the manner in which the system is set up. As a consequence, if a CCTV system is set up inefficiently then it may have a high set up cost, and not result in much change in the amount of product that is lost through theft. There are many different variations in the set up of CCTV systems, and these all have implications for effectiveness. Some such considerations include the number of cameras that are being used, the type of cameras, amount of area that is being covered, blind spots and how visible the cameras are. More visible cameras are highly successful at theft deterrence, as many people are aware of their presence; however there is also an increased risk of vandalism, as thieves can easily locate them. Field of view is also important. Cameras cannot see 360 degrees around themselves, and as a consequence, the angle at which the camera is facing is important. For some cameras, the direction in which they are facing can be changed manually using a controller or a joystick from the control center. Cameras may also be set to move the angle in which they are facing over a set period of time. This results in a much wider field of view over time. However, there remains a blind spot that the camera cannot see, often directly behind this. This can be taken advantage of by thieves if they are able to identify the direction in which the camera is facing, and the pattern of its movement. At Best Buy, this problem is reduced by the cameras being enclosed in opaque domes. While the camera’s view is unobstructed, the direction in which the camera is facing cannot be determined by any observers. This is also used to give the idea of more cameras being present than reality, with some domes being empty. Poor recording quality or poor positioning of cameras results in images in which the faces and activities cannot be positively identified. If the store is interested in banning the individual from the store, or in instigating legal prosecution, the poor image quality can be problematic, and may result in the case being dismissed . In the case of internal corruption this can be very important, as identifying the individuals involved can often be crucial for the investigation. Likewise, if the store is being targeted by organized crime, the same individuals are likely to be involved more than once, and the identification of their activities as well as who they are can be an important factor in catching such thieves . In my own work, I have found CCTV systems to be a highly effective tool. At any given time there is two or three security staff monitoring cameras within the security center. These security staff members are able to see the entire store through the images and easily zoom in or view specific areas or people as well as rewinding the footage to determine what happened prior. Through the cameras, a person behaving in a strange manner can be followed from one department to another without them ever being approached. This is important from the customer satisfaction perspective, as not every person thought to be behaving strangely is a thief and false accusations often result in the store losing credibility. On occasion the system has been used for other purposes. For example, when a parent has become separated from their child within the store, we often use the cameras to find and track the location of the child while we bring the parent to them. This has proven to be more effective than sending people for the child, as the presence of strangers can often be alarming. There are many legal factors that need to be taken into account when working with CCTV. Images that are recorded by the cameras are stored for a set period of time, and as a consequence, there are numerous concerns regarding privacy. Although the use of such technology continues to increase in prevalence, many people are unaware of the extent to which they give up their privacy in return for convenience . The United States Constitution guarantees citizens privacy as an inalienable right , however businesses also have a right to protect their assets. Most legal rulings have considered that the use of monitoring technology in businesses, including CCTV systems, is an essential part of security, and part of their basic rights. It is not uncommon for employees to complain about the level of surveillance that they are under while at work. Many consider surveillance to be intrusive and claim that it represents a lack of trust on the part of the employer. There are few laws that address the employee’s right to privacy. Most laws consider that an employee should not assume that they have privacy in the work place. Many employers include a clause in the contracts of employees that states that they will be under surveillance. While the law considers that permission is needed for someone to be monitored and recorded, the concept of implied consent is often used, especially under common law. Under implied consent, monitoring is permitted where employees have been informed or where privacy is not considered to be a reasonable assumption . For example, many businesses inform employees that all emails and internet traffic is subject to scrutiny, and that they should not assume that anything they do on the internet is private. In the same manner, CCTV surveillance on the shop floor or staff room is legal under implied consent, but within bathroom stalls is not. Consequently, businesses are largely free to use technology such as CCTV to monitor most areas where they operate in order to look for potentially criminal behavior. It has proven to be an extremely effective technique in deterring thieves, as well as catching and prosecuting individuals who have been stealing within the store. People who have been banned from the store can often be identified through the CCTV footage. Having several people observing the cameras at any given time has a significant role in improving security as well as identifying problems before they become serious. The use of technology in loss prevention and security has grown significantly throughout my life. When I was young, my uncles talked about surveillance operations that they had been on, and the stories were something that excited and interested me. Now, I use similar technology, although much more advanced in my own line of work. CCTV technology has improved substantially since I was a child, and it continues to increase in ability and complexity. I have no doubt that in the future facial and behavioral identification will be possible, but currently the technology is very new, and largely ineffective. Without the use of CCTV systems, security within a store such as Best Buy would be much more complex and nowhere near as effective. Many more staff would be required, and they would need to be on the floor constantly, walking up and down aisles to make sure everything was as it should be. CCTV means that much less staff can be used for the same or higher efficiency. Furthermore, the recording of images means that the information that is gathered can be used at a later date, such as in criminal proceedings. References Read More