CCTV (closed circuit television) security systems are proven, indispensable, resources in the successful prevention, investigation, and combat of both small and large-scale crimes ranging from petty-theft and vandalism to international terrorism. When introduced into public arenas and retail spaces, video surveillance technology works on many levels of individual and social psychology. For example, it actively discourages criminal activity by effectively functioning as a visible, tangible, reminder of the consequences that accompany the documentation of crime – namely, identification and conviction – while at the same time helping citizens without criminal aspirations to feel more protected and comfortable as they go about their daily lives.

Correspondingly, the positive and multi-faceted impact that the widespread installation of CCTV surveillance systems is capable of actuating in communities worldwide is broad and varied in scope. By discouraging criminals, it prevents crime, and by recording delinquent activity it provides leads that ultimately assist police in getting criminals off the streets to lower a community’s overall crime rate, improving the economies in formerly crime rife neighborhoods in turn. This is especially true in the category of crime that takes place in the public sphere and that are not typically enacted in more deserted, less populated, areas (like assault). And, considering that most CCTV camera surveillance systems have integrated evolving technology by going from analog to digital – which is to say that they do everything they did before but now more quickly, clearly, flexibly, and responsively – these positive effects can only grow and multiply.

Contemporary digital CCTV security systems are comprised of both software and hardware elements that, together, gather and communicate integral surveillance camera data via fiber optic lines running to control rooms that are furnished with digital CCTV monitors. To fully benefit from these intricate video security systems, staffing control rooms with knowledgeable security or law enforcement professionals who have been trained to monitor video evidence with a vigilant eye for suspicious activities is key. Additionally, because the particularities of environmental conditions directly correspond to the kinds of crime that an individual CCTV user seeks to curb, selecting the equipment – which ranges from small, fixed cameras to direction-controlled cameras capable of seeing in different lighting conditions – best suited for the site monitored is vital for utilizing these systems to their fullest potential. This means considering a number of factors, including weather and climate (especially in unusually hot, cold, and windy regions), the lighting situation of a surveillance location, and understanding the varieties of crime the site is susceptible to.

The future of digital CCTV is bright! With advancements that have brought wireless, GSM (global system for mobile communication) and 3G (third generation) technologies into play, the resulting increased portability and convenience that comes with being able to view live images from the Internet has and will continue to revolutionize how we use video surveillance equipment to combat crime.