Surveillance Cameras: Converging Technology and Security

"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and media reports claim that security camerascan help fight crime and terrorism. For years, security cameras have helped resolve hundreds of crime investigations. It played a crucial role in solving the 1993 Jamie Bulger case that ended the life of a Liverpool toddler who was abducted from a shopping center and brutally murdered. The cctv camera also led to the arrest of a man who attacked and injured four people in Kingston, Surrey.

Nowadays, CCTV or security cameras have become a requirement in almost any establishment, government institution and home in the Unites States. Aside from fighting terrorism, these surveillance cameras provide real-time footages, which help the police gather leads, reduce crimes and help individuals feel safer in crime-stricken areas.

As technology advances, modern CCTV cameras have gone digital for its improved performance and surveillance. Modern CCTV cameras are made of hardware and software chips that collect and transmit videos over fiber optic lines. The fiber optic lines are connected to control rooms and digital CCTV monitors, where security professionals record events and keep track of suspicious behavior caught on the system.

Surveillance cameras are available in different types such as compact, hidden cameras, fixed cameras, and direction-controlled models that can record the flow of events in dark areas and other various lighting conditions. Wireless cameras such as the hidden camera are easy to install and use. You only need to connect the camera to a power supply and configure the signal to transmit a picture feed to the recording equipment. However, wireless networks and electronics such as mobile phones and remote control can cause interference in the signal and distort the picture quality. Meanwhile, wired cameras need a conventional setup. It requires a direct wire to the recorder to get a more powerful picture feed signal. This type of camera gives a clearer picture since it doesn’t receive any signal distortions.

Although security cameras are designed to control crimes and violence, some security officers cast doubts on the ability of a CCTV cams to control crime. In a press conference in London, British security officials said although billions of pounds were spent for installation of security cameras, burglary, public disorder and crimes of violence seem to have trebled. Some security officials also feared that the use of surveillance cameras impinge privacy than crime detection purposes

Evidence has shown that security cameras and CCTV systems help prevent break-ins, but deterrent to more violent crimes such as rape and aggravated assault. Factors pointing to the inability of security cameras to catch crimes result from the fact that cameras installed in deserted areas tend to have dirty or dusty lens. These electronic systems should work effectively under sufficient integration of human skills and existing security plans. Generally, when a CCTV system is mounted in an area, criminals shy away from these monitored areas fearing prosecution since these recorded images can be used in court. "