| Many advocates claim security cameras are | | | | themselves. The presence of cameras and readily |
| ineffective weapons against crime. Despite the | | | | accessible digital footage frequently leads to a |
| multitude of research studies that show reduced | | | | speedy arrest of the perpetrator. Since there are so |
| crime rates in regions under surveillance these few | | | | many cameras on the streets and in buildings, many |
| people are still not convinced. One study of car | | | | times police can retrace a criminal's steps providing |
| parking garages showed a 51% reduction of criminal | | | | them with an excellent profile of the suspect or his |
| acts. Security cameras are an integral part of police | | | | identity. In the example above police were able to |
| investigation and special police units are dedicated to | | | | locate footage of the criminal approaching the building |
| their use. Often officers with special training are | | | | from a gas station across the street. Other cameras |
| monitoring 50-60 cameras at a time in a single room, | | | | in the gas station spotted the assailant purchasing |
| which can be a monotonous ordeal, as camera feeds | | | | cigarettes with his credit card and obtained his |
| rotate through monitors every 5 - 10 seconds. | | | | identity. He was apprehended immediately. Video |
| However, anti surveillance activists frequently point | | | | footage is excellent evidence of the crime and will |
| to situations and circumstances where these units | | | | likely lend for a speedy trial and conviction. |
| failed to respond when a crime was being committed. | | | | People are people and sadly they make mistakes. |
| In one such example a woman was assaulted at | | | | Improvements in security technology are vastly |
| knife point while inside her apartment building | | | | closing the human error gap with image recognition. |
| monitored by approximately 200 security cameras. | | | | These high tech surveillance cameras can recognize |
| She was forced into a stairwell where there were no | | | | items such as a gun or knife, as well as suspicious |
| cameras and raped. To use the horrendous nature of | | | | behaviors and criminal acts such as vandalism and |
| events like these to lobby against security cameras is | | | | assault. Absolutely nothing should replace personal |
| unfounded. Cameras did not record the crime itself, | | | | common sense. One should always be aware of their |
| but did observe the struggle in the hallways. | | | | surroundings and never take personal safety for |
| What are the alternatives? What would be fool | | | | granted. |
| proof? Greater physical presence of police and | | | | Advances in technology have brought about much |
| security guards? What are the chances security | | | | higher quality cameras at reduced prices making it a |
| personnel patrolling the grounds would have stumbled | | | | viable option for almost any homeowner to have |
| upon the crime in progress, especially since none of | | | | indoor and outdoor video surveillance. Wireless |
| the residents heard or reported anything? If guards | | | | surveillance cameras are quickly becoming the popular |
| had missed the crime what options would police have | | | | choice since they are so easy to install. These |
| to follow up with other than slowly taking the victims | | | | cameras can be quickly installed since there are no |
| description of the suspect and developing a sketch. | | | | holes to drill and wires to run. Monitored security |
| While these are terribly unfortunate events, just | | | | systems will dispatch security agents and notify |
| because a crime is committed under surveillance does | | | | police immediately. |
| not mean there is a problem with cameras | | | | |