It is a well proven and acknowledged psychology that individuals conduct themselves in a more socially satisfactory way when they feel that others can see them. This fact is the main reason why CCTV cameras work so well in places where individuals may be tempted to act in an anti-social way. CCTV has been instrumental in protecting the interests of many individuals and businesses in unsafe areas and CCTV systems are the most trusted form of security for all types of crime deterrent in its field.
CCTV is used by everyone from small businesses to suburbs to official municipal areas, including surveillance in areas such as convenience stores, banks, airports and military installations. There are many types of CCTV systems which can be used in different situations. Studies in the UK, where CCTV monitors are at the highest ratio per person in any country in the world (one camera for every 14 people) has shown that CCTV monitors are very effective to prevent an anti-social behaviour.
Similar studies have been conducted in the United States by Northeastern University and the University of Cambridge, among many others. These studies have found that parking is the main beneficiary of a CCTV system, where it coincides with a 51% reduction in crime. Public transportation was next, with about 25% reduction in reported crimes compared with similar areas that do not have any CCTV cameras installed. The areas least affected were open public places that many people thought that the cameras would not be able to get a detailed enough picture of them.
There are also CCTV systems that are not visible to the untrained eye (covert systems). These types of systems work best in areas such as around tills where you dont want the staff to know they are being watched.
The current CCTV industry has been shifted towards IP-based systems, a technology developed by Axis Communications. This change promises to take the CCTV industry to the next level of security.