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CCTV and The London Bombings

An exclusive update by Doktor Jon
Dateline July 19th 2005 - London, England

As part of the investigation following the terrorist bomb attacks on London, the Metropolitan Police Service issued the following photograph showing the four bombers arriving at Thameslinks Luton main line train station.

Could this camera have been configured to provide a clearer image?
 

In a word ... almost certainly YES! (o.k. so that's three words )

This CCTV camera has been installed to give a wide angle view of the entrance forecourt.

In Doktor Jons humble opinion, it has not been correctly profiled, located or configured.

The "Cone of Containment" is basically all wrong.
If you imagine the position of the camera, it has been mounted directly over the middle of the pathway, with the centre (thin red line), indicating a wide angle lens is required to provide the necessary coverage from this location.

In other words, a wide cone is required to provide any foreground coverage, and this has the effect of reducing the size of any targets at distance.
 

Ideally, the camera should be mounted approx. 3 metres from the ground, preferably on the station wall.
This will allow a much narrower cone to be set up, using a standard or possibly slightly telephoto lens.

In this way, the 'targets' are generally moving closer to the lens axis ( thin yellow line ), and they would appear significantly larger on screen, offering a more acceptable and recognisable Evidential Quality Recording.
 

In the correct location,and with the appropriate lens fitted, Doktor Jon would estimate that the targets would appear at least 45% larger on screen, than at present. If the camera can be moved further away from the entrance, then this will improve even more (using a narrower lens)

The area of wall and poster sites would be completely eliminated from the view, only occupying the thinnest of edges on the left hand side of the picture. Ideally, the caption display should be arranged on a single line, preferably along the very bottom of the picture.
If it cannot be arranged on a single line, then turn off the camera ident. which is not required (leaving only Time & Date).

<< Doktor Jon comments on CCTV and the London bombings
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The future for Forensic Surveillance >>
CCTV and the London Bombings - One year on ...>>

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