The CCTV Manifesto:
Responsible surveillance for the UK
– delivering a clearer picture
Avigilon’s six point plan for responsible surveillance
Responsible Surveillance should be based on:
1 C
learly establish the reason for the surveillance system, what an organisation
needs to be able to see and why.
2 D
esign a system that meets this need, taking into account the wider public and
an individual’s right to privacy and decency.
3 E
nsure transparency and accountability with the public over the use of the
surveillance system.
4 R
ecommend the best way for image data to be recorded and stored based on
the purpose of the system.
5 G
enerate a policy on how the system will be managed and the data stored,
ensuring responsibility and accountability to comply with any regulations and
prevent unauthorised access.
6 W
here deployed correctly, images should be used to assist with public safety, law
enforcement and delivering high quality images of evidential value.
Introduction
In the UK there is an estimated network of 1.85M CCTV cameras, the vast majority of
which are run by private companies.1 This makes the UK the most heavily populated
country for surveillance cameras with one camera for every 32 UK citizens.
Research from the Association of Chief Police Officers highlights that many of these
cameras are inside premises rather than facing streets and a relatively small proportion
are run by public authorities.
This is balanced against a backdrop of the increasing use of surveillance in criminal
investigations and prosecutions, and as a tool to prevent crime. This trend sees 72%
of consumers stating they would feel more secure if standard CCTV systems on Britain’s
streets were replaced with HD CCTV, with 41% attributing the feeling of safety to the fact
security forces can use the footage if anything were to happen.2
What is agreed upon by surveillance system providers and the privacy lobby alike is the
need for greater regulation of the industry and proportionate use for specific purposes.
The recent consultation by the British Government looking at the code of practice relating to
surveillance cameras indicates that full regulation of the whole industry is some time away.
In the meantime, it seems the industry and the public still have misconceptions and
concerns to overcome. When such confusion is abounding, Avigilon believes the industry
should champion a drive for ‘responsible surveillance’ which is guided by common key
principles – Avigilon’s Six Point Plan for Responsible Surveillance.
SUPPORT +800 4567 8988 | avigilon.com
1
The Guardian, 2 March 2011
2
Avigilon market research, March 2013
CCTV MANIFESTO
What is the current state of CCTV use in the UK?
The presence of CCTV in the UK makes people feel safe, with high profile cases
on a regular basis showing suspects for identification. The summer riots in 2011 and
more recently the Boston Marathon bombing has strengthened support for CCTV use
through its role in identifying suspects and footage being used as evidence to deliver
prosecutions. At present only 2% of those polled don’t see a need for CCTV.3
The presence of CCTV in the
UK makes people feel safe, with
high profile cases on a regular
basis showing suspects for
identification.
As a result of the 2011 summer riots, in Bristol alone, 127 rioters were captured on camera,
leading to 59 being charged,4 while in London, the Metropolitan Police’s investigation
team had looked through 200,000 hours of CCTV footage to identify suspects, releasing
images of 213 people wanted for questioning by the end of 2011.5 In Boston the suspects
were identified within hours of footage being released to the media.
Such factors highlight the success of CCTV in criminal cases, and in the public eyes, but
the resource required to go through such footage is extensive. This is largely due to the
analogue nature of many of the surveillance systems in use in the UK. Analogue cameras
also aren’t for the most part able to deliver images of evidential quality as a primary
means of identification for prosecutions. They often need to be used in conjunction with
other pieces of evidence such as eyewitness or circumstantial evidence.
How effective are CCTV cameras?
The privacy lobby continues to stress that there are too many cameras in the UK and they
are ineffective in preventing crime. Even the police admit that just one crime is solved for
every 1,000 cameras.6 This opinion however seems to be at odds with what the public
feels, and the anecdotal evidence suggests, as does the UK Government, that when used
properly they do act as a deterrent. One clear effect that has been noted is a reduction in
car crime when used in car parks.7
The main problem however continues to be image quality. Picture resolution has hampered
the successful use of CCTV for many years. Nearly 50% of the public sees CCTV images
as grainy and pixelated so you can’t identify individuals, with only 5% believing it has the
same quality as a HD TV at home. In an age of smart phones, all too often CCTV pictures
presented to law enforcement and media are not fit for purpose. If CCTV could consistently
provide HD quality images the effectiveness would be much higher.
The pubic on the other hand seems to believe that CCTV is far more effective than it
currently is - ‘the CSI effect’. The common belief is that you can zoom in on any image and
SUPPORT +800 4567 8988 | avigilon.com
3
YouGov market research, March 2013
4
http://www.doktorjon.co.uk/, 25 October 2011
5
BBC Online, 14 December 2011
6
Daily Mail online, 3 March 2011
7
CCTV & Surveillance website, ‘CCTV as a deterrent’
CCTV MANIFESTO
be presented with clear pictures of potential suspects – just like on TV. The reality is very
different. According to a recent report from IMS Research – now part of IHS Inc., 58.7%
of the UK’s new sales of surveillance systems in 2012 were analogue. The reality is most
systems currently installed in town centres and public places are analogue based, producing
lower quality images. From the public’s point of view, over 72% would feel more secure if
high definition (HD) CCTV systems were on Britain’s streets, providing clearer images.8 The
question comes down to educating businesses and moving away from legacy systems.
Second, most CCTV experts believe the public’s view of CCTV is one of a constantly monitored
system, that detects events in real time. Although certain town centre systems are operated
in this way, it is a tiny percentage of the overall number of cameras in operation across the
country. Most are designed to capture visual data for retrospective evidence gathering.
Does video surveillance act as a deterrent?
The difficulty has always been tracking the effectiveness of CCTV. With so many systems
being installed on private property, data on their effectiveness is not constantly monitored.
From a preventative point of view, most business owners don’t keep count of a crime that
hasn’t happened, only those that do and have required the use of the CCTV footage.
But wider use is being adopted. Surveillance systems have been installed in taxis to deter
violence against drivers, and also in police vans. In some cases CCTV cameras have
become a target of attacks themselves to reduce the potential of suspect identification.9
In an age where the pictured image can be captured in seconds from various digital
devices and smartphones, criminal elements realise the potential effect CCTV images can
have on prosecutions as evidence. The hooliganism at Wembley football stadium is one
such example of suspect identification from various image sources. Yet the converse is
also true, if identification can be contested due to poor image quality, and that becomes
known in a particular area from a certain camera, this flaw can be exploited.
The current issues with implementation
The problem facing local authorities in this current economic climate is that the majority
of implementations or upgrades have to be implemented within tight budgetary controls.
Surveillance is a technology system, made up of cameras, recording equipment and
software running over a network. As with any other technology deployed within local
8
authority systems, if cost is the focus rather than return on investment (ROI), then the
9
lowest resolution equipment will be acquired. This leads to reduced image quality and
SUPPORT +800 4567 8988 | avigilon.com
YouGov market research, March 2013
CCTV & Surveillance website,
‘CCTV as a deterrent’
CCTV MANIFESTO
effectiveness. Only by moving toward an approach where ROI is the driver can the best
evidence be captured.
Recent advances in digital imaging technology, computers and networking hardware
make it possible to usher in a new level of performance in surveillance systems. To benefit
from these new technologies, however, a surveillance system must be architected from
end-to-end with the goal of capturing and preserving image quality. Any weak link in the
system can irreparably reduce image quality and therefore the evidentiary value of the
Avigilon’s idea of ‘responsible
surveillance’ is the standard to
which providers and operators
should adhere to when working
with customers and is based on
a six point plan.
surveillance system. A surveillance system must be designed to:
1. Capture the best surveillance footage possible.
2. Preserve the surveillance footage exactly as it was captured.
One example quoted by surveillance experts is the cost to implement a system in London.
It is estimated that to install one camera in the city can cost upwards of £20,000 when
closing roads, seeking appropriate permissions, bringing equipment on to site etc. is
taken into account. Compare this to the cost of the camera being installed which is a
small fraction of the overall cost of installation. When you take into consideration that a
city that opted for an HD system would require fewer cameras the cost savings multiply
the larger the system. From this perspective, an ROI look at the deployment of HD video
surveillance vs. an analogue system is more economical.
Whilst cost is one element, the industry is at present only self-regulated through the
Surveillance Camera Code of Practice Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 – Government
response to statutory consultation over the Surveillance Camera Code of Practice, June
2013. It is suggested that the current legistlation from the Information Commissioner’s
Office will only affect between 3–5% of the CCTV cameras in the UK. Although a business
owner installing CCTV has to comply with certain elements of regulation, such as the
Data Protection Act 1998, the CCTV industry has only to follow, if it chooses, a code of
practice. Without formal regulation, systems can be erected by anyone, anywhere on
private property. Principles of best practice look to guide the responsible industry players,
but this leaves opportunities for inappropriate use such as the positioning of cameras
inside school toilets and changing rooms.10 Such distortion creates systems that are not fit
for purpose and generates a backlash against the potential legitimate use of surveillance
when deployed correctly near these facilities to protect children’s safety or discourage
bullying in schools.
10
SUPPORT +800 4567 8988 | avigilon.com
Evening Standard, 12 September 2012
CCTV MANIFESTO
The business perspective on CCTV use
Eighty-eight percent of businesses surveyed in the UK use CCTV surveillance systems
for premise security in and around their buildings.11 The most common reasons for
implementation cited to sales staff is to comply with insurance, health and safety or public
liability requirements. But most working in the industry believe business users are still
confused, with many not understanding what is possible or what they should do. As a
result they don’t always see the need or understand how to deploy a system that fits what
they are actually looking for.
At the root of this problem is the lack of clear industry regulation and the amount of
related regulation, often contradicting, that a business owner needs to comply with. For
example a pub landlord will be required to comply with the Data Protection Act 1998
when it comes to storing and accessing images, regulation from the financial authorities
for the monitoring of card transactions, licencing regulation as well as Health and Safety
rules. As a result, buyer’s remorse can be common, as once a system is installed it doesn’t
meet the needs of the owner, whilst the ‘CSI effect’ comes into play with the system’s
capabilities not being as imagined.
ANALOGUE
HD
A move to responsible surveillance
With potential buyer confusion and varying technologies, coupled with the public’s belief
in the use of CCTV, more is needed to ensure that when a system is deployed it meets the
requirements of all parties, including that of the regulatory bodies and the government.
The mixture of private and publically owned systems has created a complex web but
when used properly this can contribute to public safety and the protection of property.
To achieve this, Avigilon believes in ’responsible surveillance’ in every aspect of video
surveillance deployment.
SUPPORT +800 4567 8988 | avigilon.com
11
Avigilon market research, March 2013
CCTV MANIFESTO
This mantra flows from the principle set out in the Surveillance Camera Code of Practice
201212 of ‘surveillance by consent.’ It aims to ensure that, ‘surveillance cameras are
deployed to protect and support them (the public), rather than spy on them.’13
Avigilon’s idea of ‘responsible surveillance’ is a standard to which providers and operators
should adhere to when working with customers and is based on a six point plan.
Responsible surveillance six point plan
1 Clearly establish the reason for the surveillance system, what an organisation needs
As events continue to show
us, in an ever-unsecure
world, video surveillance,
and increasingly in the future
high-definition systems, are
critical as a deterrent and in
providing evidence suitable for
prosecution purposes.
to be able to see and why.
There are a number of reasons a company might consider setting up at surveillance
system, however it’s important to ensure that there is a valid reason to do so. Whether
this be to serve security objectives – such as crime reduction, or to help foster business
intelligence, this needs to be assessed and justified before implementing CCTV, both
from a cost and design point of view. The purpose will also help determine how the
organisation treats its video footage to some extent.
2 Design a system that meets this need, taking into account the wider public and an
individual’s right to privacy and decency.
After having established the need, organisations must ensure that their surveillance
system is from the outset designed in such a way that no individual’s privacy is infringed
or breached. For example, if a camera outside your business also points at a residence,
organisations will want to ensure that their video management software and cameras
are capable of privacy screens. This tells the camera not to record sensitive areas like
the window in a private residence. If a person would reasonably expect privacy, that area
should not be recorded.
3 E
nsure transparency and accountability with the public over the use of the
surveillance system.
Transparency and accountability around surveillance has been much-debated topic. For
example several organisations have proactively provided the public with notice that they
are being recorded on CCTV. Transparency also extends to working with authorities to help
build trust with the public. The London Riots are an example where several businesses and
public officials brought their resources together to identify and prosecute rioters.
4 Recommend the best way for image data to be recorded and stored based on the
purpose of the system.
When recording and storing video footage, the purpose of the CCTV system is of utmost
importance. The purpose will help determine the retention period of the video data. For
example, if a retailer is using a CCTV system to prevent shoplifting compared to a national
bank that is using the CCTV system to prevent insider fraud the retention period will be
very different. Organisations should keep video data stored in a secure environment and
limit access to authorised personnel. Keeping a log of access will also help ensure the
integrity of the video data.
12
5 G
enerate a policy on how the system will be managed and the data stored,
ensuring responsibility and accountability to comply with any regulations and
prevent unauthorised access.
SUPPORT +800 4567 8988 | avigilon.com
Surveillance Camera Code of Practice Pursuant to
Section 29 of the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012
13
Surveillance Camera Code of Practice Pursuant to
Section 29 of the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012
CCTV MANIFESTO
It is imperative that companies installing CCTV systems look at creating policies on not
only how the video data is managed, but how it will be stored in order to ensure that all
systems are complying with laws and regulations. Once the best way for image data to be
recorded and stored is determined, an organisation should document the purpose of the
system, the retention period of the video data and who has access to it. By documenting
these decisions it will formalise them and can be shared within the organisation for
transparency purposes. Knowing why, how and when the footage will be used will help
promote responsibility and transparency within an organisation.
6 W
here deployed correctly, images should be used to assist with public safety, law
enforcement and delivering high quality images of evidential value.
Given events such as the Boston bombings there is strengthened support for CCTV use
and its role in identifying suspects. HD quality footage can be used as primary evidence
to deliver prosecutions. At present only 2% of UK residents polled see no need for CCTV.
However, most cameras currently installed across the country are unable to deliver
evidential quality images for prosecutions creating a wide gap between what the public
wants and what law enforcement with the help of organisations can deliver. The need for
HD CCTV is crucial. Organisations should employ a video management system that can
easily call up video footage from a particular date and time that can be shared with law
enforcement. If it can be easily searched and shared with appropriate authorities it will
help expedite investigations in the interest of public safety.
Where next for CCTV
Avigilon’s ‘responsible surveillance’ manifesto ties with the government’s belief that not
every individual has to consent before a CCTV camera is put up, but there should be
transparency in the process, people should be made aware when a system is in operation
and that system should be fit for purpose.
The company has had this approach at the core of what it does for many years, but
by championing its use across the industry, Avigilon aims to affect a wide breadth of
surveillance deployments. It is suggested that the current legislation from the Information
Commissioner’s Office will only affect between 3 - 5% of the CCTV cameras in the UK.
Such an approach also addresses the use of high-definition technology, to ensure that it is
used in an appropriate way to capture robust image evidence of the right individuals in a
managed environment.
SUPPORT +800 4567 8988 | avigilon.com
CCTV MANIFESTO
Without proper guidance and regulation the video surveillance industry must
professionalise from the inside to drive the sector. As events continue to show us, in an
ever-unsecure world, video surveillance, and increasingly in the future high-definition
systems, are critical as a deterrent and in providing evidence suitable for prosecution
purposes. Only by adopting a manifesto of ‘responsible surveillance’ can this need be
balanced against privacy intrusion.
About Avigilon
Avigilon (TSX: AVO) is defining the future of protection through innovative high-definition
surveillance solutions. Delivering the world’s best image quality, our industry-leading
HD network video management software and megapixel cameras are reinventing
surveillance. Information about Avigilon can be found at avigilon.com.
SUPPORT +800 4567 8988 | avigilon.com
CCTV MANIFESTO