The CCTV Manifesto: Responsible surveillance for the UK delivering a clearer picture

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1 The CCTV Manifesto: Responsible surveillance for the UK delivering a clearer picture

2 Avigilon s six point plan for responsible surveillance Responsible Surveillance should be based on: 1 Clearly establish the reason for the surveillance system, what an organisation needs to be able to see and why. 2 Design a system that meets this need, taking into account the wider public and an individual s right to privacy and decency. 3 Ensure transparency and accountability with the public over the use of the surveillance system. 4 Recommend the best way for image data to be recorded and stored based on the purpose of the system. 5 Generate 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 Where 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. 1 The Guardian, 2 March Avigilon market research, March 2013

3 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 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 3 YouGov market research, March October BBC Online, 14 December Daily Mail online, 3 March CCTV & Surveillance website, CCTV as a deterrent

4 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 authority systems, if cost is the focus rather than return on investment (ROI), then the lowest resolution equipment will be acquired. This leads to reduced image quality and 8 YouGov market research, March CCTV & Surveillance website, CCTV as a deterrent

5 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 surveillance system. A surveillance system must be designed to: 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. 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 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 Evening Standard, 12 September 2012

6 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. 11 Avigilon market research, March 2013

7 This mantra flows from the principle set out in the Surveillance Camera Code of Practice 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 to be able to see and why. 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. 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 Ensure 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. 5 Generate 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. 12 Surveillance Camera Code of Practice Pursuant to Section 29 of the Protection of Freedoms Act Surveillance Camera Code of Practice Pursuant to Section 29 of the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012

8 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 Where 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.

9 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.