19/05/2009 - £170m of CCTV having little effect
Levels of crime are not significantly affected by closed-circuit television (CCTV) in city centres, housing estates and on public transport, a Home Office-funded study has found.
The report by the Campbell Collaboration found that they had only a 'modest' impact on crime levels, and worked best cutting break-ins in car parks which are well lit and have attendants on duty.
According to the Guardian newspaper, all 43 police forces in England and Wales are to be sent the research this summer. The move comes after recent figures show that between 1999 and 2001, £170 million was spent installing CCTV schemes in town and city centres, car parks and residential areas.
The paper said that spending on CCTV accounted for three quarters of crime prevention spending by the Home Office in the past 10 years.
As well as questioning whether CCTV cuts crime, the Government-funded report highlights fears that it gives people a 'false sense of security' and actually increases the number of offences.
The report, which was co-authored by David Farrington from Cambridge University, revealed that more evidence is needed on when and where CCTV works best.
Copyright © Press Association 2009
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