Challenge
The UK has more than four million closed circuit television cameras (CCTVs), which have proved to dramatically reduce crime and antisocial behaviour.
However, the huge number of systems can be challenging:
- Effectively managing CCTVs, knowing where they all are, who they belong to and what their capabilities are – is crucial information for police agencies and local government.
- Identifying, managing and sharing camera information in their area and beyond.
- Optimising the planning, investment and development of CCTV coverage (each camera costs approximately £100,000 to commission).
Solution
OS data combined with Cadcorp’s CCTV Mapping System enabled Salford City Council in Greater Manchester to implement a system that allows local authorities, emergency services, and other crime reduction agencies to quickly access all CCTV information within their area of interest through a simple web interface.
The Salford system started with 260 council cameras and 300 additional private ones, more than doubling their ‘reach’ and currently has over 178 users.
Result
- The new system enables local authorities and emergency services to reduce costs and deliver more efficient operations.
- Police agencies can find out immediately what footage is available and what systems might have ‘seen’ making investigations smarter, quicker, and more efficient.
- This in turn leads to faster response times to disturbances and antisocial behaviour and ultimately to improved crime detection and prevention.
- Information can be shared easily between numerous organisations, quickly and efficiently.
- It takes less time to identify the best cameras to monitor incidents.
- Ability to define access routes and to determine the potential of camera footage.
- These benefits combine to deliver greater public and company business engagement for crime and disorder.
"This new system will help to speed up investigations, saving both police and court time, and should reassure the public that we are keeping a close eye on criminals."
