Closed-circuit television (CCTV) surveillance has become a dominant tool in crime prevention across public and private spaces, particularly in the United Kingdom and other Western nations. A growing body of evidence now clarifies the contexts in which CCTV can meaningfully deter crime.

Two large-scale meta-analyses evaluated the impact of CCTV installations across various environments, drawing on more than 40 studies spanning several decades and countries.

Across both reviews, CCTV was found to produce a modest but statistically significant reduction in crime, particularly in environments like car parks where vehicle theft is prevalent. These settings consistently demonstrated the strongest effects, with the presence of CCTV contributing to measurable drops in offenses such as car theft and vandalism (Campbell Review, 2024; Updated Meta-analysis, 2024).

The positive outcomes were most pronounced when CCTV was actively monitored and implemented as part of a broader crime prevention strategy - for example, when combined with increased lighting, security patrols, or fencing.

However, the benefits were far less consistent in other settings such as city centers, public housing, and public transport systems. In these areas, the deterrent effect of surveillance alone was often insufficient.

Moreover, while CCTV did reduce property crimes, it had little to no impact on violent crime, and the reviews found no conclusive evidence regarding whether CCTV causes crime displacement (where crime simply moves to a different location) or a spread of deterrence to nearby areas.

These findings suggest that while CCTV can be effective, its impact varies considerably based on setting, monitoring practices, and integration with other safety measures.

As public investment in surveillance technologies continues, the importance of targeted deployment and rigorous evaluation grows - especially as newer forms of surveillance evolve.