2014 public space cctv research report

CCTV Perceptions and Beliefs

UK Public Space Research 2014

Foreword

CCTV PERCEPTIONS AND BELIEFS 2014 2

In March 2014 Synectics, in partnership with The CCTV User Group, commissioned independent research specialists ICM to

investigate Public beliefs and perceptions regarding CCTV in Public Spaces in the UK.

Our aim was to better understand

• General support of the use of CCTV in public spaces and why

• What would improve public support

• Awareness of the Surveillance Camera Code of Practice

• What impact the general public believes CCTV has on crime, behaviour and

feelings of safety

• What the general public thinks the purpose of CCTV is now

• What the general public thinks the purpose of CCTV should be

• Where perceptions of CCTV originate

Methodology


Methodology Online Omnibus

Respondent Classification ICM interviewed a nationally representative sample of 2032 GB adults aged 18+

Weighting In order to achieve a nationally representative sample, data is weighted to the data

found in the National Readership Survey conducted with 34,000 adults.

The Omnibus sets quotas on gender, age and region and then weights on gender,

age, region, taken foreign holiday in last three years, cars in household, social

grade, working status and household tenure to ensure a nationally representative

sample.

Fieldwork Dates 5th – 7th March 2014

Key Findings


• Support for the use of CCTV in public spaces is strong - 86% of people support its use.

• 74% of people support CCTV ‘Because it helps prevent crime’

• Only 4% of those surveyed were against the use of CCTV. Of these 45% felt CCTV had no impact on

public safety, while 44% said they opposed its use because the public does not receive enough

information on how and why it is used.

• 43% of people said that ‘a guarantee that cameras would be monitored more closely’ would

increase their support for CCTV in public spaces, as this would enable more immediate response to

incidents as they happen. This was the most popular answer given.

• 80% of people feel they do not receive enough information on how and why CCTV is used in their area.

This question was asked in 2012. The statistic remains the same showing that there has been no

change in 12 months.

• Only 10% of people surveyed knew what the Surveillance Camera Code of Practice 67% had never

heard of it. On being told what the Code of Practice was 70% welcomed it.

• Most people (64%) believe the current primary purpose of CCTV in public spaces is to help

prevent crime and antisocial behaviour

• 76% of people believe the primary purpose of CCTV in public spaces should be to help prevent crime

and anti-social behaviour.

• Only 3% of people said that information from their local authority had the biggest influence on

their perceptions of CCTV and how it is used. Only slightly more (4%) said information received

from the police.

• 64% would be worried if their local council announced it was reducing CCTV to save money.

Awareness of CCTV


Q1. Do you know whether public space CCTV Systems operate in your public spaces in your area e.g. town centres, car

parks, areas around public transport?

N=2032 (all people)

Yes 69%

No 11%

Don't Know 20%

Surveillance Camera Code of Practice


10%

23%

67%

Heard of it and know what it is

Heard of it but don’t know what it is

Never heard of it

Q 2. Have you heard of the Surveillance Camera Code of Practice?

Q 3. The Home Office ‘Surveillance Camera Code of Practice’ has been introduced in June 2013 to ensure public space CCTV

cameras have a legitimate purpose, are fit for that purpose and that this information is communicated to the public. With

this in mind, which one of the following statements, if any, best describes your views?

N=2032 (all people)

9%

9%

21%

26%

23%

8%

5%

None of the above

How CCTV is used in public spaces doesn’t concern me at all so neither does this policy

I welcome the policy if it means the quality of CCTV footage will improve

I welcome the policy as I don’t think the public knows enough about how and why CCTV is

used

I welcome the policy as I think authorities do need to review how and why they use CCTV

I don’t think this code was needed because it only relates to public space cameras - the

problem is with unregulated private cameras

I don’t think this code was needed as public space CCTV is already used appropriately

Support for Public Space CCTV

CCTV – What The Public Want 7

Q 4. Do you support or oppose the use of CCTV in Public Spaces e.g in town centres, car parks, areas around public transport?

Support 86%

Oppose 4%

Don't know 10%

N=2032 (all people)



Q 4b. You said that you support using CCTV in Public Spaces. Why are you in favour of CCTV use in Public Spaces?

N=1744

1%

1%

51%

68%

70%

70%

70%

74%

Don’t know

Other

Because local authorities have a responsibility to keep the public safe

Because it helps create safer communities

Because it helps prevent anti-social behaviour

Because it makes public spaces feel safer

Because it’s crucial for criminal investigations

Because it helps prevent crime



Q 4c. You said that you don’t support using CCTV in Public Spaces. Why are you not in favour of CCTV use in Public Spaces?

N=85

44%

45%

31%

45%

46%

15%

1%

Because the public don’t get told enough about how it is used

Because it has no impact on public safety

Because the footage captured is never of a good enough quality to catch

criminals

Because it’s used as an excuse not to have more police on the ground

Because it doesn’t help prevent crime

Other

Don’t know

Increasing Support for Public Space CCTV


Q5. Which of the following events, if any, would increase your support of public space CCTV?

1%

7%

21%

1%

37%

36%

29%

27%

43%

7%

14%

Don’t know

Other

I already support the use of CCTV in public spaces

Nothing could increase my support of public space CCTV

More information provided that shows CCTV helps secure convictions and not just arrests

Regular updates provided on what impact CCTV is having locally e.g. decrease in incidents, arrests made because of CCTV evidence

More information provided about how and why CCTV is being used

The local authority working more effectively with police

A guarantee that cameras are monitored more closely to enable immediate response to criminal activity

The police handing over control to the local authority

The local authority handing over control to the police

N=2032 (all people)

The Purpose of CCTV


Q6. What do you think the purpose of CCTV in public spaces is at present?

Q7. What do you think the purpose of CCTV in public spaces should be?

64

47

53

25

42

25 22

1

8

76

71

65

27

60

31

8

1 5

To help prevent crime and anti-social

behaviour

To catch criminals in the act and enable immediate police

response

As an investigative tool to be used after

criminal or anti-social incidents have taken

place

Purely to provide supporting visual evidence in police

investigations

To help enforce the law

To help enforce local authority policy

To generate money from fines etc.

Other Don’t know

At Present Should Be

N=2032 (all people)

Information on CCTV


Q8. Do you feel you receive enough information on the use of CCTV in your area?

Yes 20%

No 80%

N=2032 (all people)

Perception of CCTV


Q9. Which of the following, if any, has the greatest impact on your perceptions of CCTV and how it is used?

24%

2%

4%

3%

2%

1%

4%

24%

14%

9%

13%

Don't Know

Other

Information from our police services

Information from local councils

Social Media

Movies

National police appeals

Programmes such as Crimewatch

TV crime shows

The local news (TV, radio or newspapers)

The national news (TV, radio or newspapers)

N=2032 (all people)

CCTV Funding


Q10. The following statements relate to CCTV and how it is funded. To what extent do you agree or disagree with each of the

following statements?

N=2032 (all people)

29

17

6

7

18

18

35

40

13

17

37

38

20

27

39

39

25

26

6

4

24

21

8

7

4

2

10

7

3

4

6

9

8

10

9

7

I would be worried if my local council reduced CCTV security in order to save

money

CCTV costs should be split between the police and local authorities

CCTV should be funded entirely by the police because they use it most

CCTV should be entirely funded by local authorities as it’s their responsibility

I’d be surprised to learn that the police don’t always make a contribution to CCTV

funding

CCTV provision in public spaces is one of the key services I expect for paying

council tax

Strongly agree Slightly agree Neither agree nor disagree Slightly disagree Strongly disagree Don’t know

Contact Details

CCTV – What The Public Want 15

For further information on the research or to share your views on the results, please

contact:

Natalie Simpson

T: +44 (0) 114 255 2509

W: www.synecticsuk.com/research

E: [email protected]

Synectic Systems Group Ltd

3 – 4 Broadfield Close

Sheffield

South Yorkshire

S8 0XN

No part of this report should be reproduced without prior permission from Synectics plc.

mailto:[email protected]

2014 public space cctv research report

Technology

perceptions of cctv

use of cctv

public spaces

public beliefs

methodology cctv perceptions

foreword cctv perceptions

public space cctv systems

general public