Most people believe Britons are more accepting of CCTV, as a result of the successful identification and prosecution of hundreds of rioters based on CCTV evidence. That is suggested by research by D-Link, a networking, wireless, storage, security and IP product company.
More than two-thirds (68pc) of people stated that they believed that video evidence will act as a bigger deterrent to criminals. While the research did reveal that 61pc of respondents were more worried about their property and possessions compared to 12 months ago, the majority (63pc) also wanted to keep an eye on their neighbours while they were away from home. This new twist to ‘neighbourhood watch’ was significantly ahead of the monitoring of postmen (11pc), landlords (8pc) and tradesmen (6pc) for instance.
Adrian Edwards, Consumer Solutions Manager at D-Link UK & Ireland, said: “Traditionally, privacy has been a major concern when it comes to the use of CCTV. However, it now looks like the British public are becoming more accepting of it and see it as an effective deterrent. Clearly the general public are more worried about their property and possessions these days, which is highlighted by 87pc survey respondents wanting more police on the streets. Consequently, many people are looking at ways they can better protect their property and possessions themselves. From the research it appears that some people would like to take ‘neighbourhood watch’ quite literally!”
The research suggested that the majority (60pc) of people did admit to being worried about the safety of their property and possessions while on holiday or away on business. However, it also showed that more than three-quarters (80pc) of people thought the overall cost of home security was too expensive, when it came to purchasing, installing and maintaining systems.
There are now alternative ways emerging for people to secure their property. For example, home monitoring/IP cameras are seen as a cost-effective alternative to CCTV, as users can set them up themselves in their home. However, to date this has still required users to have a high level of technical knowledge. Interestingly, two-thirds of respondents said they if they were able to set up a home monitoring camera more easily they would use it for home security. Some 61pc said they would feel less worried about their property and possessions if they were able to view them remotely over the internet or on their mobile phone.
“It is understandable that people can get worried about the safety of their home and possessions, especially if they are away on holiday or are on business for an extended period of time. This has traditionally meant having to invest in expensive home security solutions or requiring a degree in computing to set devices up yourself. Fortunately, the latest home monitoring cameras, advances in mobile technology and the ubiquity of internet connectivity, has meant that home security is becoming more readily attainable for a lot people. All of which should give them greater peace of mind whether they are just at work in the office or lying on a beach abroad,” added Adrian Edwards.
The survey of 2,112 people from Great Britain, asking them their views on home security, was commissioned by D-Link and conducted by independent research company TNS Omnibus.
