If CCTV is there for our safety and security then why are there so many unsolved crimes?

Question

Every where you go especially in cities there are CCTVs watching. We are told its for our peace of mind so we feel safe but there are so many crimes on the streets which go unsolved. A lot of the time footage can't be, for some reason, used.
So why are there so many and what do they do with the information they get.Where do all the tapes go? And who are they?

did say alot of the time and not all the time.Just been through a case that although it was obvious could not be used

Sally, at this moment can't say as case is still going through but on another line but can say the reason's stupid in my eyes

Answer 1

Normally CCTV in public areas will be used by the local constabulary or a control room of the local authority with direct link to the police, in private by whoever owns or rents the premises you are in.CCTV is a useful way to gain evidence sometimes, but at the moment CCTV in public areas is being used as a replacement for beat police. It was never designed to be used in this way. Over the years a beat policeman could tell at a single glance if anything was amiss on his beat. Then he could set about finding out what it was. CCTV operators can only see narrow "tunnels" and the art is slowly getting lost.Beat policemen used their ears too which a CCTV operator can't.
Many CCTV cameras can be used by local authorities or private owners to watch things like traffic flow or crowd behaviour and therefore to alter any roads/alleys/ constricts etc to improve flows.
You can put a CCTV system anywhere you like on your own property as long as it doesn't show any property that is not yours; it is allowed to show a reasonable part of the highway but may not monitor it. You can't put a CCTV camera anywhere on public property unless it is authorised by he local authority and you must stipulate a good reason for it being there. CCTV cameras don't gather any information as such, just images. Tapes are often re-used, sometimes they are used too much and the quality of the image gained is useless. Modern systems record to a hard disk which is wiped periodically and gives a much sharper image. It doesn't help though if the perpatrators of crimes are wearing garments that cover their faces.
It's the sad mantra of modern times that everyone wants to do everything on the cheap, including policing. CCTV cameras provide very little deterrent and the need to get the police out of their cars and back patrolling the beat is obvious. But this means training and paying more policemen. This comes out of local budgets, and the authorities don't want to pay for it.

Answer 2

I cannot understand why, if a crime was obvious on CCTV it could not be used. Perhaps you could tell us a little more.

If a CCTV system is run properly, all tapes should be numbered and the times and dates they are used, and by who, should be accurately logged. Normally tapes are kept for between 28-31 days but many systems are now digitally recorded and these recordings CAN be kept for longer.

If a crime is filmed, the CCTV will be preserved and stored safely as part of the chain of evidence. It must be kept in a durable form and copies made for prosecution and defence etc.

In the case of a serious crime, I believe the recording should be kept for 10 years or more.

Many crimes ARE caught on CCTV but if the quality is poor or the "offender" is unknown, it can be impossible to find them. When you think there are something like 60 million (I think) inhabitants in the UK, it is impossible for a couple of people watching the incident to be able to name them.

So many people travel in and out of the UK and around the UK for various reasons, it is possible that someone could commit an offence in an area, be seen on CCTV and NEVER go back to that area EVER again - therefore avoiding detection.

So yes it most certainly assists the police in detecting crime and bringing successful prosecutions. But it is, sadly, not infallible.

If you get a chance, more about the reasons why CCTV cannot be used would be very interesting.

Answer 3

Normally I would resent all these CCTVs looking at me, but if I were walking alone down the street and I can hear footsteps behind me and seeing a shadowy figure following me, I would hope that there are a few CCTVs trained on me and someone is watching. Or if there has been a mugging or murder, I would hope that there were more CCTVs and they would all be working and provide useful clues. Near my house there is a lane where fly-tipping happens every week. I admit that I wished the council would install some CCTVs to deter it happening. They will not even allow householders living nearby to install them in case they invaded someone's privacy.

Answer 4

the tapes are stored for 1 monyh then reused, most cctv cameras are on tour that is to say they are on a random cycle of inspection they can be used to detect crime only if someone reports the location in the first place other aspects of cctv are covert and cannot be revealed to the general public for obvious reasons that goes for the operatos as well

Answer 5

lot of the older cctv cameras are connected to a centre and used for viewing only ,one cctv camera in ross town centre was positioned above a jewellery shop but was unable to record a ram raid for the above reason.

Answer 6

CCTV footage CAN and IS used in solving crime.

But, unfortunately, not all criminals are stupid enough to commit crime in areas that have CCTV.

Answer 7

I have CCTV and the police never come to collect the tapes when a crime has been committed.

Answer 8

Maybe CCtv footage is all blurry!

Answer 9

There was no strong base to our laws since it was created, it went through many changes and end up protecting criminals.

Answer 10

because most of the guys who are supposed to watch cctv watch porn instead of doing their job