The whole notion of camera surveillance is very reasonable and appropriate considering the fact that we live in a country that is rife with crime and immoral behaviours. Sometimes the only way to capture criminals and eradicate criminal behaviour may be to install a camera or a CCTV system in and around certain areas. But like everything else it a something that is subject to human error and misuse.
Too badly, something that is meant to protect and serve people in a positive way can be turned into something mean, something that could leave people hurt and disturbed at a psychological level. This purchasing and installation of CCTV should be a very strictly guided one and there should be certain procedures and guidelines to purchasing them. There should also be a warning sign that tells you that there is a CCTV around the area.
Some reports have recorded people saying that these cameras take away their privacy and instead of feeling safe, they feel preyed upon and watched by people who may be perverts or people with other agendas either than that of protecting the community. How then do we explain?
CCTV footage of young boys who are engaging in a rape of a girl that has gone viral?
An official of the law engaging in sexual acts with a colleague during work hours?
On You Tube, there are videos of people in rest rooms and their homes, in their most private settings that have been uploaded. It is not only embarrassing to the person who is being recorded but it is malicious act and an invasion of space. People who secretly record others for pleasure is wrong. These days things go viral and in a second everyone will have the footage on their phones, it is devastating and many young people have committed suicide due to this.
If camera surveillance is going to be installed, people should be warned and it shouldn’t be placed in intimate spaces unless the people involved are aware and fully consenting. Otherwise, the installation of surveillance systems is done in vain and is working against the objective of fighting crime.
The appropriate use of camera surveillance in South Africa is about protecting people and property responsibly. We ensure that our CCTV installations are effective for security while respecting privacy. If you are considering a camera surveillance system for your home or business, contact us for a free written quote and expert guidance.