Closed Circuit Television, or CCTV, was introduced in the 1970s
and since then has played a significant role in assisting the
police in the investigation of crime and terrorist incidents.
CCTV alone cannot reduce or detect crime, but used in
conjunction with other methods it can greatly assist in the
detection of offenders. It is an effective line of enquiry when DNA
and fingerprints may fail and to complement forensic
investigation.
A common misconception is that the police own CCTV cameras. In
fact, cameras are predominantly owned by local authorities and
private businesses.
As a result, Cheshire Constabulary has close partnership links
with:
- Cheshire West and Chester Council
- Cheshire East Council
- Halton Borough Council
- Warrington Borough Council
The CCTV monitoring staff with these local authorities are in
constant close contact with the police.
Cheshire Constabulary uses CCTV footage to:
- Track the movements of criminals
- Locate victims of crime
- Identify potential witnesses
- Identify any suspects
- Provide corroboration for evidence
- Use or disapprove alibis
- Help to determine the seriousness and context of any offence,
particularly in court cases
- Monitor public order disturbances
- Provide surveillance of critical locations
The widely-reported estimate of the United Kingdom having 4.2
million public facing CCTV cameras should be treated with caution.
The number was generated as results from a survey of the number of
CCTV cameras in two south London streets. The results were then
multiplied to produce the estimate of CCTV cameras in the UK.
Cheshire is one of the few police forces that have mapped out
their CCTV cameras. There are approximately 1,300 business premises
with CCTV, which amounts to around 13,000 cameras. Local
authorities own 301 cameras.
Cheshire Constabulary also has a mobile CCTV van that can be
deployed to areas where there is a high risk of public order
offences or at major events.
Cheshire is also of the few forces that employs identification
officers, who compare the video footage of unknown suspects to
photographs of people who have had their mugshot taken .
The force also has a Caught on
Camera gallery where CCTV images of suspects involved in crimes
such as shoplifting, sexual offences, burglary, drug offences and
driving off without paying for petrol are posted from around
Cheshire.
E-fits and images of people wanted for investigations and
operations from other forces are also posted so that Cheshire’s
Police Officers and Police Community Support Officers can see if
they know the offender.