CCTV

Closed Circuit Television otherwise known as CCTV is a visual surveillance technology designed for monitoring towns, cities and localities as a means of controlling criminal activity. CCTV systems typically involve a fixed or dedicated communications link between cctv cameras and cctv monitors.

One of the features of a cctv system is that the cctv camera is often installed in a high-rent commercial area. The insurance industry offers businesses and private residents huge reductions in policy premiums, sometimes up to thirty per cent, where local retailers have installed cctv security as protection against theft.

The crime statistics prove that CCTV displaces criminal activity to areas outside the range of the cameras. One of the features of cctv surveillance practice is that the security camera is often installed in high-rent commercial areas and residential areas. This makes for lighter work for the local enforcement agencies and police.

Most municipalities are moving to CCTV surveillance of public areas, housing estates, car parks and public facilities and crime reduction is the result. Many businesses are now covered by surveillance camera systems involving a linked system of cameras with full pan, tilt, zoom and infrared capacity. Their use for home security is also increasing in popularity. Security cameras are now operating in public places including roadways,  in phone booths, vending machines, public transport vehicles and taxis and inside automatic teller machines and are used for home security surveillance.

Since the growth of CCTV as the preferred means of crime prevention for businesses and homes, the traditional, community based security systems are becoming less popular as a result.