Closed circuit television surveillance is an increasing feature of our daily lives. Its deployment is commonplace in a variety of areas to which members of the public have free access. We are all likely to be caught on camera while going about everyday lives and the images relayed back to a control room. The average person on the street is happy knowing that their safety and well being are covered with the cameras on the street corner, shopping center or car parking lots.

CCTV can only be part of an integrated approach to problems, where it can be a very effective mean of crime prevention and detection, as well as crime reduction.

CCTV is not just used for problems and the bad side of society. CCTV is used for many "good" things, such as reunite children and parents or grandparents that have become separated in the town centre; helping visitors find their cars in car parks; updating local radio with news about traffic flow and car parks; assisting with emergencies or other special events, and helping with the strange occurrences that happen for time to time.