Does evidence guarantee justice? - A carer caught on camera red handed, stealing from the disabled woman she was supposed to be looking after, has walked away from court with a suspended sentence. The victim had suspected that money was being stolen from her home, so she arranged for a covert CCTV system to be installed. Whilst the video recordings were damning for the thief Jane Hoy, the judge's decision to set a suspended sentence alongside community service and minor compensation, has left the victim distraught, and the wider community furious at the outcome. - Source - This is Bristol.co.uk 10th February 2010

Veiled in secrecy - There is growing concern that the government in Egypt is planning to install CCTV in thousands of mosques. Despite denials by the Ministry of Islamic Endowments, it is being widely reported that plans are advanced to deploy surveillance cameras in a move designed to tackle problems with extremist preachers. - Source - The MidEast News Source 8th February 2010

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Departing from the truth - A passenger in the OR Tambo International Airport in South Africa, was checking the smashed locks on her suitcase when moments later her handbag was snatched. Whilst the security guards insisted that the CCTV was not functioning, an investigating police officer later discovered that not only was the surveillance working, but no effort was being spared in trying to prevent the police from viewing all the recorded material. - Source - Independent Online 8th February 2010

Overcome on the run - A 30 year old fugitive captured on surveillance video fire bombing and vandalising 130 four wheel drive cars back in 2003, has reportedly been killed by an avalanche in Corsica. The suspect described as a 'militant environmentalist', had previously been convicted in his absence on eight charges and was sentenced to over 8 years in prison, by a court in Southern California, - Source - 89.3 KPCC 6th February 2010

Police prosecute persistant panty pincher - The 59 year old former mayor of Preesall, near Blackpool, UK, has been sentenced to two years in prison, after having been convicted of stealing ladies underwear. Preston Crown Court heard that the accused was only caught after a married mother of two installed hidden security cameras in her home, which captured him walking half naked into her bedroom before rifling through her underwear drawer. Police later visited his home and found a collection of lingerie worth around £ 900 ( $ 1,400, € 1,000 ). - Source - The Mirror.co.uk 6th February 2010

CCTV and the keys to success - Aleksander Kudajcsyk may be a world class pianist now, but at one time he was just a humble cleaner at the Glasgow University. It was only when he was captured by CCTV secretly practising on the colleges piano, that word got out, and the talented virtuoso was then on his way to the start of a glittering musical career. - Source - The Jakarta Post 6th February 2010

Police cameras are given a rest - Police failed to capture on camera the alleged TIO bomber, after it was revealed that the CCTV at Darwin Police Station in Australia, was turned off at the time. This follows an ongoing investigation into allegations that the cameras, which have only been live for six weeks, were briefly being used inappropriately to monitor a group of girls. - Source - Heraldsun.com.au 5th February 2010

Floored by failed surveillance - For the second time in eighteen months, a carpet shop owner in Tewkesbury has been outraged by a vandal attack on his premises. On this occasion, the window was smashed despite the presence nearby of a council operated CCTV camera, which it has subsequently been established was not working at the time. - Source - This is Gloucestershire 5th February 2010

Tragedy caught on camera - A previously unseen surveillance video from a failed 2001 CIA drugs operation, has just been aired on US television amid accusations of a cover up. A small seaplane carrying a missionary family was shadowed by a CIA flight, in the mistaken belief that it was carrying drugs. The error led to the aircraft being fired upon by a peruvian airforce fighter, despite desperate radio calls being made on the wrong frequency. Two members of the family perished in the incident. - Source - Herald Sun 4th February 2010

A heavy price .... - Increasing terrorist attacks in Pakistan have lead to the deaths of 353 police officers during 2009. On 22nd December, the final moments of a suicide bomber attempting to enter the Peshawar Press Club, was recorded on CCTV as they were restrained at the entrance by Head Constable Riazuddin, whose selfless bravery saved the lives of hundreds attending press briefings within the building. - Source - IPS News 3rd February 2010

On the wagon - Train drivers and guards working in the Mumbai District of Central Railway, will in future have to be on their best behaviour when CCTV cameras are shortly installed in their rest areas. Despite protests, the installation of cameras is intended to help reduce the problem of staff consuming alcohol whilst working on the railways. - Source - Indian Express 3rd February 2010

Persistance pays off .... - After two years hunting for a child kidnapper caught on a number of surveillance systems, detectives from the Los Angeles Police Department have finally captured their suspect. The arrest of an hispanic male was initially triggered when his vehicle was 'pinged' by a police cruiser's onboard license plate recognition system. A subsequent surveillance operation, led to the arrest of the 41 year old male, who now faces 25 years to life if convicted of a string of child abductions and sexual assaults. - Source - The Los Angeles Police Department Blog 3rd February 2010

Privacy issues served up on a plate - According to a recent article, there are currently 10,502 CCTV cameras across the UK, which are linked in to vehicle Automatic Number Plate Recognition systems (ANPR). The cameras, which are fed through to the National ANPR Data Centre (NADC) are currently reading and recording around 10 - 14 million vehicle plates every day, although the systems already have the capacity to store up to 50 million in the future. - Source - Kable 3rd February 2010

Shop till they drop - Around 1,000 small retailers across the U.K. will benefit from a share of the £ 5m ($ 8m, €5.5m) crime reduction Small Retailers Grant Fund, announced by the Home Office. As part of the Retail Crime Action Plan, the grants can be used to purchase CCTV alongside other security equipment. - Source - Home Office 2nd February 2010

What goes around .... - Police in Kettering, Northants, UK have acquired 800 domestic CCTV cameras courtesy of the local criminal fraternity. Using powers under the 'Proceeds from Crime' Act, the cameras were purchased with £ 25,000 ($ 40k, €27.5k) out of a total of £ 1.5m recovered from criminal activity in the county last year. The cameras will be handed out to homeowners and the victims of repeat crimes in an attempt to deter further incidents. - Source - Evening Telegraph 2nd February 2010

So many questions ..... - Authorities in Dover, New Hampshire, USA, are strenuously resisting a lawsuit demanding information on the town's CCTV cameras. Under a "Right to Know" request, a local resident has sought details of the precise locations of all cameras located in municipal buildings, along with detailed information on their operating arrangements. - Source - Fosters.com 2nd February 2010

Top marks for the camera system - In the previous year, the Huntcliff Secondary School in Lincolnshire, UK reported over £ 20,000 ( $ 32k, €22k ) worth of damage caused by vandals. Since installing an IP Video camera system that transmits images of intruders to a mobile dog team, incidents have been completely eliminated, saving the school money both on repairs and increased insurance premiums. - Source - This is Scunthorpe 2nd February 2010

Let the games begin - With little over a week before the Winter Olympics opens for business in Vancouver, Canada, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the city authorities have set around 1,000 CCTV cameras in place to help maintain security. It's expected that the RCMP units will remain active until the conclusion of the Paralympic Games, after which they are most likely going to be decommissioned. - Source - The Toronto Star 1st February 2010

Not just prices being marked down - Councillors have reported a 30% drop in shoplifting in the St Annes and Kirkham areas of Lancashire, UK, following the installation of eight new Town Centre CCTV cameras. The drop in recorded crimes was measured in the last quarter of 2009 and compared against the same period in the previous year. - Source - Fylde Borough Council 1st February 2010

Unlikely to get carried away - It's been reported that in the last four years, The US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has seen claims for baggage theft and damage, drop from $ 3.2million in 2005, to less than $ 500k for most of 2009. The huge reduction in complaints about baggage issues, has been squarely based on the increased use of video surveillance to help counter terrorism across the nations airports. - Source - Los Angeles Times 1st February 2010
 

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