How CCTV is used in Criminal Investigations

THE USE OF EETV in Criminal Investigations Closed circuit television (CCTV) footage can be absolutely critical in the investigation of crimes, with footage caught on camera often proving to be a decisive piece of evidence. For the investigating officers, it's a time-consuming process, but one that can be crucial to the conviction of perpetrators. о-о-о-о-о-о-о-о-о-о-о-о-о-о-о-о- Common Uses of CCTV for Police Patrol vehicle Training Robbery investigation Crime scene Undercover in-car cameras processing surveillance Tactical Vehicle collision Interrogation Video line-up operations investigation The observation secrecy of CCTV cameras can be divided into 3 categories 3 Covert The camera is fully hidden Overt The camera is visible and its Discreet The camera may be visible, but its appearance will not automatically suggest its purpose function is clearly indicated to deter criminals insofar as possible Performance Słandards for CCTV Observation Detection Recognition Identification Person is 5% of screen size, can't be recognised but surrounding area can be seen, good for contextualisation. Used in car parks. Person is 10% of screen size, can't be recognised but suspicious activity can be picked up. Used in shop floors & display areas. police/investigative team. Used at payment points, vehicle gateways & fuel station forecourts. Person is 50% of screen size, can be recognised if known to Person is 120% of screen size, can be recognised clearly and other details (e.g. vehicle registrations) also decipherable. Used at entrances/exits of business premises, service counters & fuel station forecourts. Common CCTV problems can include Poor lighting Images out of focus or subjects blurred Cameras didn't cover Subject being too small or not in view for long enough a large enough area Immediate Benefits of CCTV in an Investigation Identifies suspects, witnesses & vehicles involved Indicates entry & exit points from the scene of an incident Identifies forensic Verifies witness/ opportunities suspect accounts Establishes co00000 Identifies behaviour before, during & after an incident a timeline of events Provides evidence of reconnaissance by a suspect Outcomes of CCTV in an Investigation Provides evidence of an offence & could lead to an early guilty plea Helps to prove/disprove allegations Provides evidence of police action & response 4 Assists with missing persons investigations Provides material for intelligence systems Process for Rerieving CCTV Footage Determine whether or not the material is relevant View Check time & date on the system the footage Make notes as to why it is/isn't relevant 是 If relevant, either secure the tape as evidence or Finish and pursue other lines of enquiry get the disc copied Steps in Disseminating CCTV Footage Show to police personnel (police force intranet/ group viewings) Disseminate to external partners, e.g. criminal justice agencies, health services, neighbourhood watch, council services Disseminate to covert human intelligence sources Launch a poster campaign Circulate to mass media and crime prevention TV programmes Guidelines for Using CCTV Foołage as Evidence There must be proof that recorded footage was handled continuously from moment of recording to production in court. The video recording medium must be the original recording. There must be no evidence of editing, interference with or manipulation of recorded footage. The recording should have a time & date. It should also be long enough to establish the facts that it is intended to prove. JMC Secure www.jmcsecure.co.uk References www.policechiefmagazine.org/magazine/index.cfm?fuseaction=display&article_id=359&issue_id=82004 www.cctvireland.ie/pdf/Garda-Guidlines-on-CCTV-in-Ireland.pdf www.police.tas.gov.au/uploads/file/Pamphlets/Closed_Circuit_Television_brochure.pdf library.college.police.uk/docs/npia/cctv-final-locked-v21-2011.pdf