Surveillance Cameras
by Tokio
“Although CCTV has many functions, the primary preventative utility is to trigger a perceptual mechanism in a potential offender.” (Ratcliffe, 2011: 13)
Main Purpose of a
Surveillance Camera
Brief History & Introduction
When one walks through the metropolitan city, it is almost impossible not to recognize the presence of a surveillance camera. The surveillance camera works as a preventative measure for crimes while also decreasing the fear of crimes in order to keep the urban city safe and lively (Koskela, 2001).
The first surveillance cameras to monitor the public space was in London of 1961, to boost the public safety. Since then, surveillance cameras have become a norm to monitor public space (Brafdord et al., 2019). Like other cities around the world, surveillance cameras can be seen throughout the cities in Tokyo as well. Although the use of camera technology was slower to spread than cities such as the United States and the United Kingdom, the Japanese state recognized the use of surveillance cameras as an urban crime prevention method in 2001. At first, the installation of surveillance cameras in public streets stirred up the people of Japan, due to fears of losing privacy and the images being misused by the officials (Hino, 2019). However, the use of surveillance cameras started to become more popular because of the increased fear towards global terrorism and ‘outsiders’, especially because of 9/11 attacks and the increased number of foreigners for the 2002 World Cup.
Also in 2001, because of the high crime rate and the increased presence of the yakuza, the Tokyo Metropolitan government installed 50 surveillance cameras in Kabukicho. Before the installation of these cameras, violent crimes were 185 times higher compared to the rest of Tokyo (Murakami Wood et al., 2007). After the surveillance cameras were put into effect, 22% of crime decreased around the 50 meter range of each camera. In addition to the ones monitored by the government and the police, there are also many private cameras owned by landowners, usually placed near their property. The placement of surveillance cameras was especially effective against theft, as there was a significant decrease in the number of such cases (Ratcliffe, 2011). Despite its ability to decrease the rate of violent crimes, surveillance cameras are not working as a preventative method against extralegal activities. Despite the cameras, scouts are seen right outside the Shinjuku JR East Exit, which serves as one of the biggest entrances to Kabukicho. Catches are still seen alongside many of the streets and they continue their attempts to deceive the passengers and underage Toyoko Kids continue to drink and smoke in the hiroba. An obvious case that reveals the ineffectiveness of surveillance camera can be seen under the overhead cameras of MOA 2nd Avenue. Despite being directly under the camera, a pair of scouts observe through the crowd of pedestrians and continue to make an attempt to approach and talk to their targets. They are never worried about being in the range of the cameras vision. Why are the surveillance cameras being ignored? Or, a rather realistic question would be, despite being under surveillance, why are extralegal activities being ignored throughout Kabukicho?
Why Surveillance Cameras?
Kabukicho is full of other security and surveillance measures such as signs, announcements, and security. Furthermore, there are police patrolling around in cars and from their kōban, or police boxes. Even if we admit that private security lacks the authority to have an impact, it is undeniable that the police have the power to regulate and enforce uncivil activity. In fact, when things get out of hand, the police come into play, settling things down immediately. If these aspects are there to maintain the safety of Kabukicho, why are surveillance cameras so important?
Police controlling the chaos in Toyoko Hiroba.
Police set up ‘additional eyes’ to monitor crowds and the objective was to ‘deter, detect, and investigate crime; and monitor and enhance the security of certain areas. (Yessil, 2006: 404)
Although the police have the ability to control the chaotic urban space of the metropolitan city, they are not able to be everywhere all of the time. Hence, surveillance cameras are installed to look over the place and prevent criminal activity in places and times the police are not able to.
Is Privacy a Concern?
Ever since surveillance cameras started to have a strong presence in the cities, people were concerned about their privacy. Especially, after the advancements in technology and the increased installations, the debate between surveillance and safety intensified. In the United States, this debate cooled down after the 9/11 attacks (Yesil, 2006). In Japan, the use of surveillance cameras was also highly questioned. Especially with the strong intimacy within ‘shotenkai’ or local shipping districts, most people were reluctant in having a third-party organization watching over them (Wood, Lyon, Abe, 2007). However, likewise in the United States, incidents such as the Aum Shinrikyo Bombing and the increase of global terrorism led to the increase of fear towards crime, making it an “perfect recipe for the increasing pervasiveness of surveillance as a ‘solution’ to this fear” (Wood, Abe, 2011). Hence, in addition to efforts by the government to maximize the privacy of every individual under the eye of the camera, the increase towards fear decreases the people’s concern towards privacy and leads them to prioritize their safety.
Sections
Surveillance Cameras