Eric Piza
Professor of Criminology & Criminal Justice, Northeastern University
Key Findings
- CCTV is associated with a modest but significant reduction in crime.
- CCTV may have unanticipated crime control benefits.
- The effectiveness of CCTV was shown to vary depending on the setting and context in which it is implemented.
- CCTV was found to have greater effectiveness when combined with multiple interventions and actively monitored cameras.
- The most notable effects of CCTV were observed in car parks.
- Significant crime reductions attributed to CCTV were also seen in residential areas.
Description
In the article, “CCTV surveillance for crime prevention: A 40-year systematic review with meta-analysis,” Eric Piza and his co-authors examine the use of closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras as a means of preventing crime. The authors conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis, analyzing 80 distinct evaluations of CCTV. The results indicate that CCTV may have unanticipated crime control benefits and showed CCTV is associated with a modest but significant reduction in crime. The most notable effects of CCTV were observed in car parks, with significant crime reductions also seen in residential areas. The effectiveness of CCTV was shown to vary depending on the setting and context in which it is implemented. CCTV was found to have greater effectiveness when combined with multiple interventions and actively monitored cameras. However, it is important to note that previous studies were predominantly focused on the UK, while more recent studies have expanded to include the United States and other countries. Notably, there were no significant effects observed in the United States, highlighting the need for further research to understand the variations in CCTV effectiveness between countries and the factors influencing its impact