Most CCTV cameras not up to standard

By Michael Holden

LONDON (Reuters) - Most footage from CCTV cameras is not of good enough quality to help police identify offenders and many cameras are focused on enforcing bus lanes as well as stopping crime, a Home Office report said on Friday.

Britain has the most surveillance in the world, according to civil liberty groups and security experts, with an estimated 4.2 million CCTV cameras in place on buildings, shops, roads and train stations.

CCTV footage has proved a highly useful tool for the police in a number of major investigations, particularly those carried out by anti-terrorism officers.

It played a vital role in helping detectives track down those responsible for the July 7, 2005 London bombings.

However the report said there were many problems with existing CCTV systems, most of which are privately owned and were often incompatible.

Currently there is no legal obstacle to anyone setting up CCTV cameras providing they meet the requirements of the Data Protection Act.

"Often there is a public expectation that these systems are being installed for their safety, but the CCTV may not be of sufficient quality for police to use in criminal investigations," the report said.

"Anecdotal evidence suggests that over 80 percent of the CCTV footage supplied to the police is far from ideal."