EUKN - European Urban Knowledge Network - Assessing the impact of CCTV

Assessing the impact of CCTV

Introduction

Assesses the effectiveness of closed circuit television (CCTV) systems on reducing crime rates and the fear of crime.

Description

This study:

presents research into the effectiveness of CCTV systems on reducing crime rates and the fear of crime;
draws on an evaluation of CCTV projects in contexts including town centres, car parks, hospitals and residential areas;
describes the range of systems that are available;
examines their impact on crime, disorder and fear of crime;
looks at the influences on CCTV's operation, such as system objectives; project management; density; coverage and positioning of cameras; technical characteristics; and control room operation;
provides a financial assessment of each project and their cost-effectiveness; and
summarises the findings on what works and doesn't work.

Background information

The project was undertaken to assess the impact of CCTV schemes on reducing levels of police recorded crime and on the fear of crime in the areas in which they were installed. Although there is a considerable volume of literature which documents the ways in which CCTV schemes operate, there has been little research done to examine its effectiveness on reducing crime rates and the fear of crime in England. This study is Home Office research study 292.

Methodology

The study involved a process and impact evaluation and was undertaken in 13 CCTV projects established under Round Two of the Home Office’s Crime Reduction Programme. The process component of the study examined CCTV project design issues, control room operations and project management. The impact of the schemes was assessed by examining police recorded crime statistics, public attitude surveys and an economical assessment of each project.

Conclusions

In terms of CCTV’s impact on crime the study found that:

some system types were more successful than others with those installed in a mixed category of areas having the best results in reducing crime;
schemes were more effective at reducing premeditated offences than impulsive ones;
CCTV may be more effective in sites with limited and controlled access points; and
the presence of CCTV schemes could lead to the displacement of crime to different areas.

It found that many schemes did not have clear objectives. In addition, lack of interest and knowledge amongst project managers impeded the ability of schemes to meet their objectives.

Contact info

Home Office Research, Development and Statistics Directorate
Phone: +44 870 000 1585
public.enquiries@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk

Publication date

01/02/2005

Researcher

Martin Gill and Angela Spriggs

Article info
ISBN: 1844735818

Links

The Home Office

Assessing the impact of CCTV (PDF, Eng, 754KB)

Document type

research

Themes

Urban Policy > Security & crime prevention > Crime prevention

Keywords

Camera surveillance