James Davies

Forensic Video Analysis Group
http://www.evidenceready.com

The new measures announced merely enhance reactive observation of crime, rather than enabling proactive prevention. As highlighted by Neville, one of the biggest challenges with CCTV being effective is ensuring that the watchers are being watched, and currently the surveillance teams clearly don’t have enough time or the inclination to monitor the footage and respond to the action. Therefore, Viido must look to deploy ‘smart’ CCTV systems that can analyse the behaviour of criminals as it happens to allow the proactive prevention of crime. These ‘smart’ systems transmit the video image that is then automatically monitored for a range of simple to complex behaviours, such as unattended objects, undue dwell times, loitering and intrusion.

Smart CCTV systems have been used in airports throughout the world, and provide an excellent example of a complex environment that has a high security threat and high area footfall. With the UK gearing up the 2012 London Olympics, it is vital that the security services don’t rely on outdated systems to prevent and detect malicious activity. The promised initiatives will go some way in improving the situation, but there is still a long way to realise the full potential of CCTV in the prevention of crime on our streets.

Unfortunately, vast amounts of cash were poured down the civic drain via the purchasing of sub-standard equipment.

Some cameras give such poor quality pictures that identification of suspects is rendered impossible.

Big brother not only needs better quality spectacles - he needs to get hos act together.

However, I am sure many of us will be releived not to be quite as obtrusively observed as we thought we were!

There is clearly something wrong in this country.
Only watching the film’s trailer at http://www.EveryStepYouTake.org sends you shivers down your bones …

CCTV system owners should look seriously at getting rid of older VHS based recorders and installing DVR’s or network based recorders if they are using network systems. This in it’s self will improve the ability to record better (resolution) images. Systems also need to be tested and maintained and there are industry accepted systems and methods to do this such as ROTAKIN, which the Home Office have developed specifically for testing the effectiveness of the whole system, camera, network and recorder.

Video analytics systems are improving with the introduction of second generation systems that will make the work of studying CCTV systems much better, however, in the meantime many users of video analytics systems have to ensure they have them optimised for specific tasks, such as ‘area intrusion etc’ and leave the biometrics tasks to dedicated systems and operators.

The DCI is correct is saying that many systems are near useless when it comes to reviewing the images in playback. This is because many systems are still of the older VHS/SVHS variety and need to be updated along with improving older cameras. New digital (4cif or 2cif) cameras are not that expensive these days and will make a significant difference to the usefulness of the system as will a planned maintenance routine. It all depends if you want to use the CCTV for evidential purposes or to simply have it as a deterrent. Either way you need to make sure that the cameras that you have work and are appropriate for use. I’d strongly suggest that CCTV users join a users group and also appraise themselves of what to do to ensure that any images they do record can be of use to the legal system. The home office has a new guide to handling ‘Digital Multimedia Evidence’ (DME) that all CCTV users and operators should be aware. There are also guidelines for placement of CCTV cameras that system owners should be aware of.

At the end of the day, understand what you want your CCTV system to do and design it accordingly. Test it with the industry accepted test methods to avoid ‘subjective’ comments that the system is ‘OK Guv’ and above all check and maintain the system regularly.

The big brother society is double costly, £wise and freedomwise and this article proves it.

A more visible police presence would be a more effective deterrent to would be criminals.