Advantages of Video Surveillance
The use of video surveillance in both the public and private sectors is a hot-button issue in the United States. One issue is whether, and to what extent, an individual's privacy may possibly be compromised in order to protect society as a whole and private property in general. However, video surveillance comes with many advantages.
Other People Are Reading
-
Surveillance as an Enforcement Tool
-
One advantage of video surveillance is to improve the capacity of law enforcement agencies to identify and apprehend lawbreakers. Both private surveillance, such as video cameras in stores, and public surveillance, such as traffic cameras, are regularly used to identify perpetrators. Law enforcement agencies stress that the use of surveillance equipment will allow them to use their human resources more efficiently, thus improving their efficiency without significant long-term costs.
Surveillance as a Deterrent
-
The presence, or claimed presence, of surveillance equipment may also work as a deterrent to reduce the incidence of crime. Whether surveillance actually works as a deterrent, and to what extent, is contentious. Formal studies fall on both sides of the debate, with some arguing that the introduction of surveillance resulted in statistically significant reductions in crimes and others failing to find a statistically significant decrease. On the whole, surveillance might affect the rate of planned crimes, such as burglaries, and is less effective on impulsive crimes, such as street fights.
-
Surveillance as an Economic Tool
-
Video surveillance systems also have significant economic advantages for private sector businesses. A company can often reduce its insurance premiums by introducing surveillance systems. In some industries, such as museums and galleries, video surveillance is already a requirement.
Considerations for Surveillance Use
-
While video surveillance can be advantageous, it must be used responsibly. Most states have strict laws regarding the use of video surveillance by businesses and consumers. For example, department stores are allowed to install cameras on their merchandise floors but are typically prohibited from installing them in changing areas.
Cost is another concern for the installation of video surveillance systems. Although the use of digital storage media is rapidly making widespread surveillance use more affordable, the benefits of a system may be quickly outweighed by the costs of implementing it. Whether or not surveillance systems are actively monitored, reviewed after the fact or only used when a crime is known to have been committed near a camera is also an important consideration for getting the most benefit out of the system.
-
References
- California Research Bureau: Public Video Surveillance: Is it an Effective Crime Prevention Tool?; Marcus Nieto; June 1997
- The Constitution Project: Guidelines for Public Video Surveillance; 2007
- California Research Bureau: Measuring the Effects of Video Surveillance on Crime in Los Angeles; Aundreia Cameron et al; May 2008
- SD17 News: New Surveillance Devices Will Lower Car Insurance Costs; January 2011
Resources
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
