Retail Security Safety Crime Reduction
CCTV
CCTV
is widespread in the UK with an estimated 4.5 million cameras (and
growing). In the UK there are more CCTV cameras pro rata population
than any other Country in the World or more per hectare of land.
It may now be impossible, unless you are in an isolated spot (very
few) not to
have your image recorded as you move round on a daily basis. But do
not be too sure, cameras can see for miles.
CCTV is not restricted to fixed positions, it can be found on all
sorts of transport and also in places where it would not be
expected. Never presume
that the reason and case for having it say in public toilets has not
been made to site it there. Even I raised an eyebrow when I first
saw CCTV in such places.
Employees can also expect overt and covert observation. Many also
have audio capability and can also listen in.
The effect of having so much observation in society and everyday
life has led to the wearing of items such as hooded garments,
baseball caps to prevent the capture of full face images.
Increasingly depending on the policing arrangements in an area, CCTV
means little to some criminals.
A long list of offending does not mean heavy penalties if the
matters ever get to Court.
About 50 percent of offences never get to Court, when there
over 50 percent of fines never get paid. The UK must have the
weakest justice system in the World.
CCTV has not stopped increasing public violence and disorder on UK
streets. Of course the
retail sector need CCTV, it is part of the stagey that is needed in
the war against theft and fraud that takes place daily in all retail
outlets every day and all day.
In some UK retail premises, it is possible to lose count of dome and
fixed CCTV cameras.
All this of course makes money via registration under the Data
Protection Act. In time expect to see job creation Inspectors, no
doubt with the power to issue fixed penalty fines for simple rule
breaks.
EXAMPLE
When the Retail Security Officer (RSO) is away in a local retail
outlet I visit, I am able to stand there and watch open shop theft.
The Staff busy themselves in other areas, with poor English, the
excuse not to understand me is there.
There is a modern CCTV system in this outlet and this is an example
of its ineffectiveness without physical presence.
CCTV
