Pros and Cons of CCTV Camera Surveillance

One of the most commonly used and most trusted pieces of technology is the CCTV. Why, you ask? Anything recorded on the camera can be considered evidence for anything that happens at the place of installation. There have been instances of thefts or crimes being dropped because of their knowledge of the presence of it. It is all secure for you to have a CCTV. However, like we said, technology has two pointy ends. Here, we bring two you the possible pros and cons of using CCTV camera. 

Firstly, we bring the basic prerequisites that you need to posses before you actually decide to install a CCTV.

1. Video amplifiers and Splitters

If you are deciding on installing more than one CCTV, you might want to have a splitter. It helps you view the input from more than one camera on one single monitor. Amplifiers help to amplify the signals when the cable runs long and the signal isn’t as strong on both the ends.

2. Power supply

Ensure that you have proper power supply before you install CCTV. You must have continuous and uninterrupted supply so as to record everything.

3. Mounting brackets and housings

If you have to mount the CCTV on a height, then you need to buy brackets and if you are mounting it on exterior areas, it might be exposed to a lot of natural elements. Thus, to protect it from all that it is better to have housings for these cameras.

4. Cables, connectors and wires

We have now mentioned most of the necessary elements and all that is left is the common things for any electronic item. Wires, connectors and cables for attaching it to various things like the monitor, power supply port etc.

Now here are the pros and cons of installing a CCTV that you should look out for before actually beginning to use it. The following pertains to both business uses and, CCTV used in houses or housing colonies.

· Pros

1. Schools

Installing CCTV in each and every classroom, can help the management to curb mishaps that happen in schools. Both students and teachers will will be extra cautious with their behavior during classes. If in case unwanted incidents take place, with CCTV footage, probing into them becomes easier.

2. Helps in gathering evidence

It is a fact that CCTV can help curb crimes and mishaps but it cannot completely stop it. However, the CCTV footage plays an important role in gathering evidence. Anything and everything recorded by the camera during a crime in the crime scene is considered as evidence against whoever is convicted.

3. Crime Records

Though CCTV cannot completely stop crime at all times, it can put the criminals off-guard for a while and also, as the biggest advantage, record the faces of the criminals for future reference and at most times, this ends up acting as a help in finding that face in reality.

4. Keep records for future use

If there arises a sudden requirement for you to see what happened outside your home or your business place for any possible reason, you don’t need to be dependent on your watchman or a passerby if you have a CCTV. Everything that has happened during the period from when the camera is there, can be recorded and saved for future viewing purposes.

5. Maintaining rules and regulation in public place

Public violations of rules like trespassing a signal, jumping red lights, speeding, hit and run all can be controlled if they’re aware of the presence of a camera looking down at all their actions.

· Cons

1. Privacy infringement

The first and major disadvantage of installing a camera for surveillance is, it comes with a risk of individual’s right to privacy breach.

• Business- when you decide to install a camera at your place of business, you will be now breaching the basic right of privacy of your employees. This might make them conscious of their surroundings and also control their actions and all this might eventually affect their performance at the place of work.
• Schools- By installing cameras in all classes, you are directly giving out the message that the management does not trust the teachers or the students. It might also make the teachers aware of its presence and affect their teaching.

2. Abusing the records

Though the maintenance of records by the CCTV can act as an advantage, it can also turn against you if anyone else from outside gets hold of essential information about your business, through the CCTV. This kind of happenings most definitely falls on the cons list.

3. Can curb but can’t stop

The presence of surveillance cameras can only put the offender off-guard. It can never make them completely stop what they are about to do. For instance, presence of CCTV could not stop terrorists from bombing at various places.

4. Quality issue

CCTV can record everything and can be used for future reference, can be used to gather evidence etc. However, the quality of evidence is often given up on. Many a times lack of clarity in recorded footage works in favor of the criminals and justice can not be done.

5. Not an economic option

If you have to ensure high quality recording and install cameras to record every action that goes on inside your work/home parameter, then these CCTVs are surely going to burn a whole in your pocket.

6. Can be manipulated and destroyed

Though cameras and its recordings are considered a powerful piece of evidence and can be kept for a long term, it can still be destroyed and also can be hacked. An intelligent intruder can pretty easily disable the camera or get hold of the recordings later and destroy it, to his advantage.