NCJ Number
215512
Journal
Police Quarterly Volume: 9 Issue: 1 Dated: March 2006 Pages: 100-125
Date Published
March 2006
Length
26 pages
Annotation
This study examined the hypothesis that the use of closed-circuit television (CCTV) could lead to the loss of informal citizen guardianship activities in camera-surveilled areas.
Abstract
Results of a comparison of calls for service data in a CCTV-surveilled area and a comparison area, as well as results of a citizen survey, revealed no significant evidence of a degrading of informal citizen guardianship activities in the CCTV area. Most citizens surveyed indicated they would intervene in some way if they observed a criminal activity despite the presence of a CCTV system. Although the current results indicated no guardianship suppression effects as a result of a CCTV system, the author notes that suppression might arise under different CCTV field applications or system configurations. The results suggest that CCTV may increase citizen guardianship by creating the impression that failure to help will be observed by personnel monitoring the CCTV system. The evaluation involved a survey of 287 random persons entering the CCTV-surveilled area. The responses of participants who knew about the CCTV surveillance were compared to the responses of participants who did not know about the CCTV system. Additionally, a time series dataset of calls for police service in the CCTV area and a comparison non-CCTV area were examined. Follow-up studies should examine the guardianship suppression hypothesis under CCTVs' different conditions. Tables, figures, notes, references