Camera Surveillance Effectiveness in UK: A Political Science Report

This report delves into the effectiveness of camera surveillance, particularly CCTV, as a crime prevention measure in the United Kingdom. It acknowledges the significant investment in surveillance technologies and their role in reducing crime rates. However, the report also critically examines the potential for biases and prejudices within surveillance practices, particularly concerning the targeting of individuals from minority communities. It draws on research to highlight instances of discriminatory practices by camera operators, leading to social inequality and the profiling of specific groups. The report emphasizes the need for inclusive technologies that can restore the balance between risks and dangers, concluding that while camera surveillance has benefits, it can also contribute to social exclusion and discrimination. The report references key studies to support its analysis and conclusions.

Research Portfolio

Table of Contents
TASK ..............................................................................................................................................3
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................5

TASK
Considering the current political environment in United Kingdom, There has been an
increase number of crimes are a serious threat for public and also a challenge for both public and
private organisations involved in the process of its prevention. Various methods and tools are
there which could be used to ensure crime prevention. In a scenario of increase number of crime
rates and activities, camera surveillance is known as an effective measure to deal with the
increase crime rates and to ensure public security. Today, government invest huge amount of
money in the areas that are high with increase number of crimes as this help in reduce the
number of crimes in specific areas.
Camera surveillance is probably the most used security policy in today’s world. Fast
developing technology provide an opportunity to record the activities that are taking place which
help in trace the criminal activities (Ritsema van Eck, 2018). Camera surveillance is a general
and most used tool to ensure public safety. Camera provide the digital images of the activities
that take place and this reduce the monitor costs. Mainly CCTV aims to enhance the perceived
risk of detected and help in capture and arrest the individuals involved in unethical activities.
Recorded images are used to carry forward the investigation and to identify the individuals
involve in criminal activities. All this help in prevent safety and also decrease the amount of
criminal activities take place.
The CCTV which has been applied to various communities are referred to as an most
sought approach to deal with instances of terrorism and insecurity in the country. However it has
been identified that Video camera's installed at communities and public places have continuously
giving rise to instances of prejudices and biases in the country. The camera operators irrespective
of their location have been discriminatory towards people with different colour and community.
For instance, the people belonging from Asian and African communities are often kept more
under police investigation than other people.
This discriminatory targetting have been practices since long and is creating a scenario of
social inequality in the community. As identified through perspective of Brayne (2017), the
monitoring of recording of CCTV camera possess highest rates of profiling and stereotyping of
people ranging from minority section of the population. This is mainly due to absence of specific
guidelines and criteria established by the police authorities. The primary approach to filtration of
people is to investigate a section of people showing distinct behaviour and stereotyping have

failed largely. As the major terrorist have changed their approach are hiring white women so that
they can easily overcome such tactics. Therefore such explanation are sufficient in assuring the
ineffectiveness which has been caused due to over relying on CCTV camera and footages for
security.
There is no doubt that camera surveillance is an effective tool to ensure safety and to
prevent criminal activities. But there are some cases where camera is not effective to deal with
the increase crime activities as the people involve in the investigation only investigate the
individuals from minority community. They show biasses in the investigation and in all this the
main individuals involve in criminal activities remain unidentified. It is very essential in order to
work upon this in order to get the right individuals arrested who carry out criminal activities. It
can be concluded from the above explanation that there is little benefit which are delivered by
photo and video surveillance and more harm done to the community in the form of social
exclusion and discrimination (Brown, 2015). Therefore it is important to inculcate a higher use
of inclusive technology that is able to restore the balance between risks and dangers.

REFERENCES
Brayne, S., 2017. Big data surveillance: The case of policing. American Sociological Review.
85(5). pp.977-1008.
Brown, I., 2015. Social media surveillance. The international encyclopedia of digital
communication and society, pp.1-7.
Ritsema van Eck, G. J., 2018. Emergency calls with a photo attached: The effects of urging
citizens to use their smartphones for surveillance. Surveillance, Privacy, and Public
Space (Abingdon: Routledge), Forthcoming.