Abstract

This paper reports the evaluation of two contrasting open-street closed-circuit television cameras (CCTV) installations in Scotland. Twelve cameras were installed in a small town called Airdrie in 1992, and 32 cameras were installed in Glasgow, a large city, in 1994. After controlling for extraneous factors, it was discovered that, overall, recorded crime fell (and detections rose) in Airdrie after camera installation, but in Glasgow recorded crime rose (and detections fell). However, in both locations, some more specific types of recorded crimes fell and some others rose. It cannot simply be concluded that CCTV "works" in small towns, but not in large cities. In part this is because the goals of open-street CCTV installations are usually developed at a somewhat slower pace than the systems themselves, and are often incompatible. For example, proponents claim that CCTV will both reduce crime (by deterring potential offenders) and increase it (by capturing more illegal acts on camera). Accordingly, in both locations studied, CCTV has been a different sort of success.

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