Relation between CCTV Installation and Burglary Reduction - Dissertation Example

What is the nature of the relation between CCTV installation and burglary reduction? Table of Contents Table of Contents 2 Dissertation Title 2 Dissertation Title The following will include the research study on the following topic- “What is the nature of the relationship between CCTV installation and burglary reduction?” Executive Summary Most commercial and domestic establishments, as well as local authorities throughout UK have deployed or are in advanced stages of deploying CCTV systems. CCTV has evolved to become a common feature of public life and takes a fundamental place in the present crime control technology. Nevertheless, there is a sound reason for remaining cautious regarding the nature and the extent of these effects, and, most significantly, on the question of why CCTV work. A systematic literature review on the efficacy of CCTV systems reveals that little information exists on the manner in which CCTV impact on crime, especially on property crimes such as burglary. Knowledge of the mechanism contributing to the effectiveness of CCTV is essential as it can inform reproduction of success in fresh crime prevention schemes, the sustenance of success in present schemes, and the cost-efficiency of CCTV operation. Focus The study explores the effectiveness of CCTV in reducing burglary within commercial establishments such as shopping malls. The study will evaluate both the outcomes and the mechanisms via which the reduction was brought about. The study will seek to shed light on the outlined research questions: 1) Does the installation of CCTV lead to reduction of burglary incidents? and if so, 2) To what extent does CCTV possess such effects? 3) How significant is the number and/or extent of coverage of CCTV in an area to be effective? And, 4) are there any indications that the deployment of CCTV in shopping malls associated with other externalities such as increase of people frequenting the area? Aim Most local authorities and commercial establishment around the UK have installed or are in advanced stages of installing CCTV systems. However, only a handful of systematic evaluations of CCTV systems have been undertaken, and little information exists on the way in which CCTV can influence the commission of offences within public places. The main aim of the research is to analyze and identify whether the wide use of CCTV in shopping malls has yielded reduced burglary incidents. Objectives The study will explore the effectiveness of CCTV system established within commercial buildings in reducing burglary incidents. From the research on the topic, the following research objectives will aid in the pursuit of the main aim of the research under study: • To access the relationship in between the CCTV and the reduced burglary activities • To analyze the determine the extent of CCTV installations in UK • To explore the mechanisms by which the use CCTV lead to reduced rates of property crime Background Burglary denotes the illegal entry into a house or building with the sole purpose for committing an offence or crime (Weisel, 2012). Burglary prevention efforts characteristically involve a variety of responses such as installing burglar alarms, installing CCTV, hardening targets, or implementing neighbourhood watch programs. In the UK, there has been an aggressive adoption of closed circuit television (CCTV), as a tool for tackling crime. CCTV expenditure accounts for more than three-quarters of total expenditure on crime prevention by the British Home Office, which has rendered the UK to be a leading peer in CCTV coverage, in the world. In fact, close to £500 million was invested in Britain on CCTV installations in the decade up to 2006 (Home Office, 2004). Despite the initial fears regarding civil liberties, the general public, presently, does not appear to be overly apprehensive about the proliferation of such schemes in the public domain. The CCTV systems can now be found in areas such as shopping facilities, building societies, schools and colleges, and transport facilities. The deployment of CCTV is presumed to help in detection of crime through its surveillance competence, as well as the prospect it may afford in effective deployment of security personnel. The driving goal in CCTV installations hinges on the thwarting of crime and disorder via deterrence (Home Office, 2004). The achievement of CCTV in reducing overall crime levels within diverse locations, however, has seldom been assessed, or indeed questioned (Welsh and Farrington, 2002). Literature Review The literature review encompasses an analysis of journals, books, and articles on the topic, in order to explore the impact of the CCTV in reducing burglary activities. The literature review explores studies that have evaluated the effectiveness of CCT in minimizing crime, disorder, and fear of crime in the target sites (Phillips, 2010). The deployment and use of CCTV in societies around the world have stimulated significant debate on a number of topics relating to its effectiveness and utility as a safety tool; as a management tool, as well as ethical issues revolving around CCTV installations (Sorensen, 2003). The objectives of surveillance systems deployment form a public safety perspective hinges on minimizing criminal activity; enhancing the quality of life (by minimizing threats to person and property); reinforcing confidence on the economic viability of an area; and, facilitate the overall economic rehabilitation of the area covered by the system (United Nations Human Settlements Programme, 2007). Some of the advantages of CCTV that have been cited to be the driving force in its installation include the harmonization of quick response from a central control room; the facilitation of recognition and apprehending of offenders; assistance in the collection of criminal evidence, processing and conclusion of criminal cases; and, acting as a deterrent to offenders (Lee, 2008). A Framework for Evaluating CCTV The Evaluation of the effectiveness of CCTV requires a framework to explore the connection between crime prevention measures, their outcome, the mechanism via which the outcome is generated, and the context in which it transpires. Pawson and Tilley (1994, 1997) advanced nine mechanisms through which CCTV is supposed to operate; these are: • “Caught in the act”: CCTV allows perpetrators to be detected successfully, and probably be removed or dissuaded. • “You have been framed”: CCTV dissuades prospective offenders who factors in the enhanced risk of apprehension. • “Nosy porker”: CCTV may encourage more people to feel comfortable in frequenting the sites under surveillance. This will enhance the level of ordinary surveillance by newcomers, which may in turn discourage potential offenders. • “Effective deployment”: CCTV guides security personnel to unclear circumstances that may set off their translation into offense. • “Publicity”: CCTV could embody endeavors to take crime seriously, and the discernment of such efforts may both invigorate law-abiding citizens and/or dissuade others. • “Time for crime”: CCTV can be perceived to minimize the time necessary to commit an offence; thus, thwarting crimes that usually necessitate a lengthy time and effort. • “Memory jogging”: The existence of CCTV may encourage persons to implement the basic security precautions such as keeping their car under lock, by stimulating their memory. • “Anticipated Shaming”: The existence of CCTV may persuade individuals to adopt elementary security safeguards, for apprehension that they will be embarrassed for being caught on CCTV. •“Appeal to the cautious”: Individuals who are cautious normally migrate or frequent areas with CCTV to either shop or leave their cars, and so on. Their vigilance and security-mindedness dwarf the risk. • “Reporting changes”: In most instances, individuals living in CCTV covered areas often report (and/or police) less of the offences that happen, either out the urge to indicate the impacts of CCTV, or out of a conviction that the authorities are undertaking their best to reduce to minimize crime and their efforts should not be curtailed. Case study The Burnley Context The study categorized areas into beats with cameras focal beats, displacement beats, and other beats beyond latter (other). The first category features beats in which crime should automatically decline, if CCTV were to have an effect. Instinctively, this will only be applicable, insofar as the criminal does not think in regard to police beats or administrative units/scheme boundaries. The second category features areas into crime would debatably be dislodged from the beats sheltered by cameras. The third category functions as the baseline. The study showed that crime fell sharply with the installation of the first cameras, but weakened as more CCTV cameras were installed. This pattern suggests that effect of CCTV cameras is not strictly a result of surveillance effects per se (Agre and Rotenberg, 1998). Of significant interest, the adjacent areas indicated trends similar to those of the non-adjoining areas. Diffusion of benefits, in this case, infers a reduction in crime in areas neighboring an area where a crime prevention programme has been instituted. More refined estimates of the effects of CCTV within covered areas can yield information with enhanced practical implications. The effects of CCTV deployment occurred across diverse crime types instead of a certain set of crimes. The deployment of CCTV indicated a reduction even in crimes that are not predominantly undertaken in public view with the bulk of the crimes being subsequent to the visible crimes. This implies an indirect effect beyond simple surveillance. Table 1. indicates the average monthly totals for the 26 months prior to deployment of CCTV cameras in March 1993 and for the 15 months following this date. Only offences that showed a significant decrease or increases were incorporated. CCTV NO CCTV BYKER FORCE PRE CCTV POST CCTV PRE CCTV POST CCTV PRE CCTV POST CCTV PRE CCTV POST CCTV Burglary 40 17 [-57%] 75 46 [-39%] 110 107 [-3%] 2307 2260 [-2%] Criminal Damage 32 21 [-34%] 111 83 [-25%] 217 225 [+4%] 4107 4441 [+8%] Theft of M/V 17 9 [-47%] 168 100 [-40%] 141 122 [-13%] 2590 2298 [-11%] Theft from M/V 18 9 [-50%] 106 65 [-39%] 110 98 [-1%] 2146 1803 [-16%] Theft Other 223 198 [-11%] 197 161 [18%] 153 154 [+1%] 2437 2233 [-8%] Juvenile Disorder 13 15 [+15%] 19 20 [+5%] 158 204 [+29%] 2601 3185 [+22%] Notes: 1. Source: Short and Ditton (1995) (1995) 2. *=Significant difference in the incidence of offences (p Read More