As we go about our daily lives, we are constantly watched. This is to combat crime such as physical assault, car theft and vandalism. CCTV cameras have been successful in helping to track down the criminals, but they are controversial.

Some people feel that money would be better spent on having a police presence on our streets to prevent criminal acts in the first place, rather than just recording the incidents. Most of us take the cameras for granted now and forget that they are there. CCTV cameras are here to stay. It’s difficult to quantify the amount of crime that has been deterred by cameras being in place.

CCTV Cameras
Cameras make some people feel safer but others see them as an infringement of civil liberties. Being observed by the authorities was predicted in George Orwell’s 1984 novel. In that story, Big Brother was an oppressive regime and some fear that we are going down the same road. The police have a difficult job of convincing the public that cctv is making a significant difference.