Relationship Between CCTV Installation and Burglary Reduction
1). Introduction
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2). Previous Research Findings
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3).Relevant Theoretical Perspectives/Framework
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Relationship between CCTV installation and burglary reduction
Introduction
Throughout the globe nowadays, numerous closed circuit television cameras (CCTV) are deployed in businesses as well as streets with the goal being to increase public safety and reduce crime (Waples, Gil & Fisher 2009). In Britain for instance, in 2011 there were more than 1.89 million CCTV cameras – 1 per 32 citizens – and this number is expected to increase (Kille & Maximino 2014). In America, Chicago has an estimated 15,000 CCTV surveillance cameras set up, and this is in fact one of the most extensive networks in America and strong concerns have been expressed by civil liberty groups because of this high number of CCTV camera installations (Welsh & Farrington 2010). In the city of New York, there is an increasing usage of CCTV cameras in high-end residences, businesses, and even on public transit (Ratcliffe, Taniguchi & Taylor 2009).
Kille and Maximino (2014) pointed out that industry estimates show that the market for video surveillance globally is projected to rise from about $11.4 billion in the year 2008 to almost $38 billion in the year 2015. In one study carried out in 2013 by the New York Times and CBS, 78 percent of the study participants supported the installation of CCTV cameras in public areas (Kille & Maximino 2014). The usage of CCTV surveillance cameras has been effective in various notable cases. For instance, CCTV cameras provided pictures of the suspects of the Boston Marathon bombing. In 2005, CCTV cameras provided critical pictures of those who were responsible for the attacks in London. Even so, there are concerns that the usage of CCTV surveillance cameras infringes on personal privacy (Bell, Jaitman & Machin 2014; Welsh & Farrington 2010). There are also concerns regarding the overall cost-effectiveness of these systems. Nonetheless, there is limited empirical research regarding the nature of the correlation between the installation of closed-circuit television and reduction of theft and crime. Most of the existing literatures on the subject matter of this study are focused on the effects of CCTV surveillance systems on displacement as well as diffusion of crime. Therefore, this research seeks to fill the gap in existing literature and answer the following question:
What is the nature of the relationship between CCTV installation and burglary reduction?
For this research, the objectives and aims are:
To find out how the installation of CCTV surveillance cameras relates to incidences of burglary in the locations of the CCTV cameras and nearby vicinities.
To determine the effectiveness of CCTV surveillance cameras in deterring crimes.
Previous Research Findings
Quite a few studies have been done regarding the subject of CCTV installation and prevention of burglary and other forms of crime (Ratcliffe, Taniguchi & Taylor 2009). Welsh and Farrington (2009) carried out a meta-analysis which involved examining a total of 93 research studies on surveillance systems to find out their efficacy at lowering the incidences of crime. For inclusion, they considered 44 as adequately rigorous. While some of the studies examined were based in American cities such as New York and Cincinnati, a lot of the examined studies were based in Britain. From the meta-analysis, Welsh and Farrington (2009) learned that surveillance systems were highly effectual within parking lots and actually had some effect on crime – a 7 percent reduction in public housing communities and city centres, and a 23 percent reduction in public transit systems. Nonetheless, their findings were not statistically significant. When sorted by country, it is notable that systems in Britain accounted for most of the reduction; the decrease in the United States was not significant. The authors concluded that whilst surveillance cameras could be effectual in certain contexts for instance public-transit systems and parking lots, the possible societal and monetary costs call for greater research (Welsh & Farrington, 2009).
In another study, McLean, Worden and Kim (2013) examined the impacts that public surveillance cameras – CCTV cameras – have on both disorder and criminal activity in the medium-sized city of Schenectady, New York. They assessed the impacts of the CCTV cameras through analyzing monthly incidences of crime as well as disorder-related calls for service which took place within 150-foot viewshed of each CCTV surveillance camera as an interrupted time series, with the intermission at the moment the public surveillance CCTV camera in question was activated (McLean, Worden & Kim 2014). In addition, the researchers analyzed the number of occurrences between 150-350 ft of the public surveillance cameras to measure the effects of displacement as well as diffusion of benefits. They also guesstimated the effects of the CCTV cameras on numbers of only incidents in public locations – crimes on the streets (McLean, Worden & Kim 2014). Their research study demonstrated that public surveillance CCTV cameras actually had effects on crime. They also had consistent effects on disorder. In addition, the study revealed that the CCTV camera’s visibility is linked to its impacts of both disorder and crime. They concluded by providing a discussion of the implications of their findings and also discussed the questions that should be addressed by research studies in future.
In their research study, Caplan, Kennedy and Petrossian (2011) used sites of CCTV camera installation and selected control sites randomly. They assessed the impact that surveillance cameras have on crimes of thefts from autos, auto thefts, and shootings in the New Jersey city of Newark for thirteen months prior to and after dates of installation of the CCTV cameras. In preventing criminal activity in the areas where they were put, the CCTV cameras that were placed strategically were not any different from those that were placed randomly. After installations of the CCTV cameras, there were statistically significant decreases in car thefts within their viewsheds. In addition, after the CCTV cameras were installed, there were considerable improvements to location quotient values for auto thefts and shootings (Caplan, Kennedy & Petrossian, 2011). There were no major displacements and the diffusion of benefits was small, which was higher for car thefts than shootings. Even with these important findings, it is worth mentioning that the system of public surveillance CCTV cameras in the city of Newark is really not as effective as it could be at preventing some criminal activities in the streets; some locations of CCTV cameras are much more effectual compared to other locations (Caplan, Kennedy & Petrossian, 2011).
Even though CCTV is perceived to be highly effective in deterring criminal activities, there is also an increasing controversy with regard to the possible unexpected limitations of CCTVs. For instance, the crime displacement effects – CCTV presence would change crime locations and number of crimes would not change – is one of the controversial issues. Another controversial issue is the diffusion effects of the benefits of crime control – CCTV’s crime prevention effect might filter through to the adjacent vicinities (Park, Oh & Paek, 2012). In their research study, Park, Oh and Paek (2012) sought to verify the diffusion of benefit and crime displacement of open-street CCTV surveillance cameras by empirically analyzing the tendencies of crime. Their findings revealed that the CCTV’s crime prevention effect was considerable. The number of thefts and robberies in the locations that had CCTV installations decreased by 47.4 percent, whereas the locations in which CCTV cameras had not been installed did not have any change in the number of criminal activities (Park, Oh & Paek, 2012). In addition, the crime displacement brought about by the CCTV cameras installation was not either found or was trivial and the rates of crimes within the adjacent locations also reduced to some extent (Park, Oh & Paek, 2012).
Waples, Gil and Fisher (2009) carried out a study aimed at finding out whether CCTV displaces crime. It is notable that displacement of crime is a concern that is usually raised with regard to situational crime prevention measures. A countrywide assessment of CCTV cameras provided Waples, Gil and Fisher (2009) with a test-bed for research on crime displacement. Several methods have been employed in investigating crime displacement, for instance using Geographical Information Systems. Their findings correspond with the existing literature since spatial displacement of offence actually occurs, although it was detected only rarely and not often. Spatial displacement did not occur uniformly across space or type of crime; the most obvious spatial displacement in particular was really found to be taking place in the target areas themselves (Waples, Gil & Fisher 2009).
Theoretical Perspectives/Framework – Routine Activity Theory
Quite a few theories have been presented for explaining why and how crimes take place. Routine Activity Theory (RAT) is a common theory that explains in a straightforward manner why crimes happen. This theory could be utilized as a useful tool by crime prevention practitioners in analyzing crime problems. The Theory of Routine Activity asserts that when an offence takes place, 3 things occur simultaneously and within the same space: a potential and motivated criminal is present; an appropriate guardian for preventing the crime from taking place is not there; and there is a suitable target (Hempel & Topfer 2011). (i) Suitable target – for a crime to occur there has to be a suitable target. The main categories of a target include a place, an object, and a person (Hempel & Topfer 2011).
(ii) Capable guardian is absent – in spite of how appropriate a target is, a crime will not take place if a capable guardian is present and a potential criminal is present. In essence, the presence of a capable guardian will deter the occurrence of an offence. According to this theory, a capable guardian could actually be anything – a thing or a person – which serves to discourage the occurrence of crime. For instance, capable guardians could be fences, door staffs, police patrol, lighting, neighbours, security guards, neighbourhood watch groups, friends, locks, alarm systems, barriers, and CCTV systems (Hempel & Topfer 2011). It is notable that some guardians are inadvertent and informal for instance neighbours, whereas some are formal such as security guards. A guardian can be present but could not be effective. For instance, if CCTV cameras are sited or set up wrongly, they would not be an effective guardian. (iii) Potential offenders – whenever an appropriate target is not protected by a capable guardian, the likelihood of a...