Using Video Surveillance Technology by Law Enforcement

Using Video Surveillance Technology by Law Enforcement
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Using Video Surveillance Technology by Law Enforcement
Over the last decade, technology has been improved at an extraordinary rate reaching an advanced level. Virtually all departments in different countries utilize one or two concepts of technology. Among the societal aspects is security, which calls for an urgent and appropriate action. Security is one major challenge in many nations, especially the developed ones that are still looking up to exploring other sectors with an aim of maintaining their current level. Technological development is evident in many areas, with different people having access to the knowledge. Research shows that currently, the most threatening and troublesome thugs have advanced knowledge in technology (Ratcliffe, 2006). The same is true with other criminals like drug barons. Other individuals who have advanced and improved the application of technological knowledge are serial killers in different states and nations. Others are terrorists who have also devised a means of tracking their enemies. Research reveals that the former Western enemy, the late Osama Bin Laden had a lot of technological knowhow and could easily locate his enemies and bring them down at his own time. If it were not for his smartness in technology, reaching the World Trade Center would have remained a dream (Dempsey, 2010). Amidst the well-trained US security personnel, he managed to bring down a big part of the great New York City down leaving many people dead and injured. For this reason, security organizations and personnel have taken a step to come up with appropriate and relevant ways of curbing criminal activities and ensuring that state laws or constitutions are followed to the latter. This essay will look into one of the mostly used technology by most law enforcement personnel or police officers, Video surveillance (Ratcliffe, 2006). Video surveillance is mainly done using the device commonly known as CCTV (Closed Circuit Television).
CCTVs have become common device or necessity in public places such as city or town streets where pedestrians walk, public or national parks, parking areas, hotels and cafeterias, public transport areas such as airports, stadiums, movie theatres, learning institutions and big or executive offices. CCTV is a system whereby a given number of video cameras are placed strategically and connected in a closed loop or circuit.
Current CCTV installations have cameras that are connected to control rooms where individual operators watch televisions keeping the track of all the processes that take place within the boundary of the location or area being surveyed. Many of the CCTVs are equipped with recording facilities or selected images within the focus. The devices are also equipped with image multiplex recording system, whereby camera-to-camera switching of images is possible enabling one tape to see or read every camera in a rotating style. The devices also have systems whereby digital technology is employed in recording the images from the several cameras once. An operator has the ability to tilt, pan, as well as, zoom many of the cameras. With the advancement and development in technology, the cameras characterized with full range of control and movement, are preferred in most cases. They enhance the quality of the image viewed from a given point (Dempsey & Forst, 2011).
In law enforcement agencies, CCTV system of monitoring or investigating criminal activities is categorized into two major systems known as active and passive systems. In active systems, an individual is employed to monitor series of displays on the screen in real time. In active systems, CCTVs are placed in public arenas with no one viewing, and the video is replayed in case a criminal activity occurrence within the area under supervision. Active systems is usually used in areas such as supermarkets where monitoring of people’s movements and actions is necessary to curb theft (Ratcliffe, 2006). Usually the systems are hybrid recording almost all images. The operator scans all the images from one monitor to the other, concentrating on important or required images and ignoring others. With the increased use of CCTVs, many public order crimes come to the notice of police officers who react by taking the appropriate constitutional measures.
How CCTVs are used in Law Enforcement Practices
CCTV systems are not physical barriers. They never limit access to some areas, make an individual difficult to rob or assault, or make it difficult to steal an object. This, however, does not imply that the device is not a definite example of situational crime prevention techniques. CCTVs may have several functions, but the core function is triggering perceptual mechanism any potential offender. The device seeks the perception of the offender and he or she realizes that he/she will be caught in case he/she misbehaves or commits a crime. In short, the device seeks to increase the risk of capture. The technique assumes that the offender is behaving in a rational manner, thus, de-motivating any other potential offender. Two elements must be present to ensure that the crime prevention process using CCTV succeeds. First, the offender must be aware that there is a camera within his/her physical location. Secondly, the offender must have a belief that the placed CCTV cameras present many risks of capture negating the rewards of an intended crime (Ratcliffe, 2006). Elaborating on the first element, a CCTV is stem in a town center where criminal activities have become regular and common among the town dwellers. Crime prevention using the device will work accordingly if the offenders are aware that their steps and activities within the town are being watched somewhere.
Research evidence shows that even though implementers try their best to install the systems, place a signage, encourage publicity campaigns, there is still a high chance that not the entire population within the place being monitored will have awareness of the cameras. Research done in the City of Glasgow Scotland confirmed this after the installation of 32 cameras within the city center and city dwellers interviewed. It was found that only 41% of those interviewed were aware of the cameras in town. According to the second mechanism, CCTVs have a greater potential of reducing crime (Dempsey & Forst, 2011). The cameras may assist in detecting and arresting offenders. The process will require prompt response from police officers to any significant incidents that might have been pinpointed by the camera operators. This system has a shortcoming in that incarcerated offenders must be prevented from committing other crimes. Offenders may als...