A Video: Surveillance in the United Kingdom
In my previous post I referenced the video surveillance infrastructure in the United Kingdom. Below is an interesting clip from YouTube that provides a documentary of this infrastructure. Included is a review of how surveillance played a part in the 2005 terrorist attack in London followed by theft and fraud detection at bank teller machines. Definitely food for thought. Enjoy!
A very interesting if somewhat naive view on the way CCTV is being used, or perhaps to be more accurate, the way most people think it's being used.
The commentary says that video surveillance has "proven it's value as a way to combat crime". The fact of the matter is that almost all independent research carried out thus far, has actually reached the opposite conclusion, which is that CCTV does not provide a magic bullet approach to redressing widescale criminality.
The problem with the research is it's almost always fundamentally flawed by it's focus (if you'll pardon the pun), or in some cases almost total lack of ....
CCTV is most effective in a defined role, when the systems design is squarely based on an accurate and intuitive interpretation of the operational objectives. In the real world, this rarely if ever happens.
The commentary goes on to suggest that there are "two critical limits" to using video surveillance, and yet it conveniently overlooks the most basic of problems, which is ensuring that the systems have been correctly profiled, and the appropriate technology and techniques deployed in order to provide an effective surveillance infrastructure.
There is a world of difference between deploying complex and expensive CCTV installations in the contained environment of a well lit casino, and seeking to produce appropriate results on a cost restricted budget, in the big wide world outside.
Current levels of CCTV efficiency are embarrassingly poor, and as long as system designs continue to be structured on the basis of "lottery surveillance", then there is very little likelyhood of any significant improvement in effectiveness, no matter what technology is being used.
Posted by Jon on August 11, 2008 at 03:41 PM MDT #