The UK is the world leader in video and digital surveillance. Britain is monitored by over 4.5 million CCTV cameras, making us one of the most watched nations in the world.

CCTV can be a valuable tool in crime detection and prevention, but it is not a silver bullet. It is dangerously unregulated.

Without independent regulation there is potential for CCTV to be misused and abused and potential for unjustified intrusions into our privacy.

Does CCTV prevent crime?

CCTV is often cited as a crime deterrent when this has not been proven. The Home Office has spent a huge amount of its crime budget on CCTV over the last 10 years yet crime rates are comparable with countries with very few cameras.

CCTV can be effective in bringing prosecutions in criminal courts but even then, some police forces admit that they will not use CCTV footage because of the time and costs involved.

Technology

While the technology is becoming more sophisticated, regulation and safeguards have not kept apace.

Cameras are now combined with databases using 'facial recognition technology' to scan and automatically identify people's faces in crowds.

'Smart CCTV' is increasingly used in tube stations to identify patterns of behaviour that suggest a crime or suicide attempt is about to occur.

Further regulation of CCTV

 
Following the 2010 General Election the new Conservative - Liberal Democrat Coalition Government pledged to increase regulation of CCTV.

Liberty has long been calling for the proper regulation of CCTV which has not kept pace with the explosion in the number of cameras and advances of technology. We look forward to primary legislation to better regulate the use and retention of images from CCTV cameras and Automatic Number Plate Recognition technology.

Read Liberty's full Analysis of the Coalition Programme for Government (PDF)