Home Office report criticises CCTV standards

Story link: Home Office report criticises CCTV standards by Jan Harris

According to the Home Office and Association of Chief Police Officers’ National CCTV Strategy report, which was published today, most footage from CCTV cameras is not of a good enough standard to help identify offenders.

The report identifies a large number of problems with CCTV systems in the UK, which has an estimated 4.2 million CCTV cameras, more per head of population than anywhere else in the world.

It suggests that the Government and the police should urgently review the use of CCTV cameras in combating crime.

The report is critical of the piecemeal nature of the CCTV network in the UK, where many systems are incompatible and are sometimes being used for purposes other than that for which they were originally deployed.

According to the report, the UK’s CCTV infrastructure is failing to realise its full potential and there is an urgent need to examine existing standards, procedures, training and methods of operation.

The report also suggests that there should be greater public accountability and that a national database of CCTV schemes should be established.

The report’s recommendations will be assessed by an expert programme board and a proposed plan of action will be developed and considered by ministers.