Ang Xu Kai (2)

In my opinion, I feel that installing a CCTV has its pros and cons. Talking about its good points is it can actually further strengthen security and is an equipment of capturing evidence. For example, when there is a break-in or having loan sharks at your doorstep, CCTV can identify the person guilty and take actions against him. Furthermore, it can also save the innocent. If there is a crime case and it took place where there is a CCTV, it can clarify who the criminal is. It also gives you a piece of your mind regarding the safety of your house.

For its disadvantages, there is not much. Having a CCTV can sometimes make your neighbors feel that you are spying on them and intrude their privacy. This will then cause a little conflict between each other. If your neighbors understand your intention, the conflict will be resolved.

In conclusion, having a CCTV proves to have more pros than cons and is worth the money for installing it.

Alex Lim Wei Quan (1)

CCTV has mainly two advantages, which is to reduce crimes such as burglary or robberies, another advantage is to help decrease the workload of police officers or even security guards as they cant 24hrs daily walking around to look out for any suspicious looking person or even be at the place where the crime had happened which in times, CCTV proved to be useful.

The only disadvantage for the use of CCTV is that I believe that CCTV cant get a 360 degree angle to record everything that is happening which it may have loopholes.

Chua Yi Kai (9)

The advantages of having the CCTV surveillance is that we can see what is on going on the streets and to prevent terrorism, and to increase security to for crime cases like robbery.

The disadvantages is that these cameras will surely intrude our privacy, and that people, having the thought that you are being watched everywhere u go everything u do, sure affects your mood of doing things.

Chan Kah Hon (4)

I think that the advantages of CCTV are worth the intrusion of people's privacy. Sometimes a little discomfort for one could go a long way to helping many others.

For example, people might baulk at the prospect of a CCTV in a toilet or fitting room. But what if a terrorist tried to assemble a bomb in there? With a CCTV camera there, we could prevent this from happening. Not to mention the people inside would not even know there was a camera there if it's placed very discreetly.

Of course I am not justifying the immoral use of these cameras. I strongly encourage the use of CCTV to further our community's protection against those who might wish us harm. But not the use of CCTV to knowingly intrude on people's privacy.

Thus after making my point, I have to leave my conclusion standing that it has to be decided in the community first before installing.

Chiow Yan Hui (8)

Chiow Yan Hui (8)

What are the advantages of CCT surveilance? They can be used to instill fear into the people of the public because when the citiznes see the camera they will instinctly mind what they do and try not to do bad things in front of the CCTV cameras. I think that more CCTV cameras should be installed becasue when the people see more of the cameras they will know that they are constantly watched so they will constantly abide by the law. I strongly fell that smaller cameras and cameras of higher technology should be installed so the security people can watch from a more discreetly and they can spot more of the bad things that people do like littering and spitting on the floor.

Eugene Gwan (13) Reply To Khoo Hong Liang (20)

Khoo hong Liang said"I agree that CCTV surveillance will be able to reduce the crime rate in the area. I would also recommend that they install CCTV surveillance in other places such as the jail to prevent criminal from escaping. We should also install CCTV surveillance in malls so that there would be lesser or even no stealing cases. But installing CCTV surveillance would intrude people privacy."

i think that they should not install CCTV as it intrudes privacy and people cannot rest or shop in peace when the know that someone is spying on them. CCTV should be installed but they should be hidden where no one can see it and they should not tell the people that they are monitering them

Khoo Hong Liang (20) Reply to Ian Ng (29)

Ian said "The advantage of the CCT surveillance is that it will be able to reduce the crime rate in that area, and that the recorded videos could be used as evidence when a crime takes place. However, being watched all the time after stepping out of your house might be an intrusion of privacy."

I agree that CCTV surveillance will be able to reduce the crime rate in the area. I would also recommend that they install CCTV surveillance in other places such as the jail to prevent criminal from escaping. We should also install CCTV surveillance in malls so that there would be lesser or even no stealing cases. But installing CCTV surveillance would intrude people privacy.

Lee Jia Ying (22) Reply to Jia Yan

I agree that investing in digital surveillance can be good, but even with all those high end cameras, the guards watching the screen might be complacent and not pay attention to the screen during his duty hours. for example, a robbery might be going on, and he still does not notice because he has his attention on another object. so we also need to consider the possibilities of human error which might screw up the whole thing even with high end cameras.

Alvin Chia (7) : Comments on Desmond Tay's entry

I do not think alarm systems are a good alternative to CCTV cameras. Alarms just alert people to a crime happening and by the time people get to the scene, the culprit would have escaped if he was fast enough.

As we all know, most of the security guards we see are mostly old people as most young people would not want to work as security guards. This leads to a shortage of capable guards. Furthermore, guards cannot be at every place at any one time.

That is why in places like commercial buildings (banks), a combined system of alarms, CCTV cameras and security guards are being used. The alarm system serves to alert people, CCTV cameras to provide crucial evidence to solve a crime and secuity guards to act as eyes to deter crime and help to arrest the suspect.

Every system has its own merits, depending on situation. We need to exercise discretion when deciding what is best or most suitable for a particular place or situation, be it the installing of alarm system, CCTV cameras or the hiring of security guards.

I still think CCTV cameras are useful. Its benefits far outweigh its cost.

REPLY TO KENNETH CHOO

What are the advantages of CCT surveilance? They can help prevent certain disasters from happening as they can watch over the people and see what they are doing. However I do not think that Singapore should install this as it intrudes into other people's privacy and majority of people do not like being watched constantly. I strongly feel that the cameras should be installed in crowded areas like Orchard Road as it is one of the most likely spots terrorists would strike and not everywhere.

I agree. Also, we should also install it at important government buildings such as Parliament House and Istana as terrorists tend to target country leaders. Not only that, we should place CCTV in crowded places such as major shopping malls and hawker centres. People don't not like being watched, as it intrudes their privacy.

Kenneth Choo (19) reply to Gabriel Lim (24)

What are the disadvantages of CCT surveillance ? I feel that even though CCT surveillance can help in such a situation when there is crime or terrorism, but in such a situation can these Surveillance cameras do anything to stop these this from happening? These cameras are only to help find the suspect of these crimes and if the suspects wears masks wouldn't it make it difficult to trace the suspects?CCT surveillance also makes people feel insecure as the feeling of being watched every time we do something or walk. And if someone was to be able to gain excess to these cameras, it might turn out as a dangerous situation.



Well, if the camera spots suspects wearing a mask, they could still raise the alarm for the police to take action as people wearing masks are most likely dangerous. I agree with you that it makes people insecure but if it is installed in the right places, it will be to our advantage.

Kenneth Choo (19)

What are the advantages of CCT surveilance? They can help prevent certain disasters from happening as they can watch over the people and see what they are doing. However I do not think that Singapore should install this as it intrudes into other people's privacy and majority of people do not like being watched constantly. I strongly feel that the cameras should be installed in crowded areas like Orchard Road as it is one of the most likely spots terrorists would strike and not everywhere.

Gabriel Lim (24)

What are the disadvantages of CCT surveillance ? 

I feel that even though CCT surveillance can help in such a situation when there is crime or terrorism, but in such a situation can these Surveillance cameras do anything to stop these this from happening? These cameras are only to help find the suspect of these crimes and if the suspects wears masks wouldn't it make it difficult to trace the suspects?

CCT surveillance also makes people feel insecure as the feeling of being watched every time we do something or walk. And if someone was to be able to gain excess to these cameras, it might turn out as a dangerous situation.

Ian Ng (29)

The advantage of the CCT surveillance is that it will be able to reduce the crime rate in that area, and that the recorded videos could be used as evidence when a crime takes place. However, being watched all the time after stepping out of your house might be an intrusion of privacy. 

Ian Ng (29) reply to Bryan Lim (25).

I agree with you to an extent that it greatly reduces the crime rate, but in every system there will be some loopholes. The surveillance will definitely be able to capture the crimes that were not planned or ill planned, but there is a possibility that in due time the more organized criminals would be able to find the flaws to this system.

Bryan Lim (25) reply to Dillon Wee (11)

It is true that CCT has their good and bad points , but if we put it in another point of view , privacy is something that we have practically all the time in our homes . While outside , we never know what may happen . And if we are not doing anything wrong , what is there to be afraid/shy of about the CCT ?

Bryan Lim (25)

What are the advantages of CCT surveillance ?

I feel that the advantages of CCT surveillance is that it greatly reduces the chances of people commiting crime or falling as a victim of crime . CCT surveillance can be also be used as evidence in the case of an car accident or crime such as robberies and kidnaps .

Lee Jia Yan (21) Question 1

When a company or government chooses to invest in digital surveillance systems, they need to invest the time in finding out how large an area needs to be watched, as well as the area's situational parameters. 

And on the highest end, there are cameras with infrared capabilities to pick up motion and changes in light regardless of poor lighting conditions. Some these high-end cameras even have 3-D imaging to better identify suspects. Companies investing in the digital system should also consider purchasing camera accessories such as weather-proofing and added material that's resistant to tampering and hazardous substances.

Soh in my opinion I do not think that the Singapore government should install these cameras as they are expensive and the government does not have anything that valuable to secure. I think they should just use those decent cameras that can monitor important places throughout the day. 

Couldn't log in to this until just now. So i posted a bit late.

Desmond Tay's reply to Dillion Wee's post

You said it is more secure because of the imaging capabilities that an alarm doesn't have. I agree with that statement, but no matter how many cameras there are, there is still a need for someone to be on constant watch. With an alarm, action can be taken quicker and the crime could be prevented instead of just investigated after it happens. There will also be no need for any tracing of people if the crime did not happen.

Justin Ng's Reply to Gerald Tong's topic-Disdvantages of CCTV

In your post, you stated that people would think of ideas and solutions to bypass the CCT when more CCT are installed.  I agree with you, but that will not happen it due time. This is because when there's the CCT, people will have to spend time and effort; Probably money as well, to find such an idea to bypass CCT. But when this happens, we would have to think of another different way to conquer the crimes and ideas and solutions at that time. Therefore, i am not saying that it is not true that people will think of ways to bypass CCT, but that every item that puts law into place will finally be bypassed by people; It is only a matter of time.

Jeremy Ho (15) reply to Justin Ng's (30) comment

Justin's comment was this:
There are many advantages of CCT Surveillance. One of the main advantages is to be able to keep watch, which is also the CCT Surveillance purpose. Being able to keep watch with the CCT Surveillance will decrease crime rates as one would be able to track criminals easily. Like said in the article, CNN-Big Brothers will be watching you, Hollywood has CCT Surveillance cameras placed around the area, and over the years, police have noted a 60% drop in crime rates in the area. Thus, if this surveillance can be magnified to span over a whole country, there would most likely, and possibly a huge drop in crime rates in the country. Also, surveillance will be able to keep law in order. This is because with today's technology, small details can be caught on tape. Even small crimes like speeding; one can be caught on tape easily due to the CCT surveillance catching them "red handed" by filming down their liscense plate. Another reason for crime drop rates can also possibly be because criminals are aware of the CCT Surveillance and think twice before acting. Therefore another advantage can be that it allows first time criminals to reconsider their actions.
My Reply
Well, I agree on your opinion but I think that the CCT surveillances are not as good as what you stated. They may help in the arrestment of a criminal or even to help decrease crime rates but since it is positioned around the city monitoring every single hour, it invades your privacy and could cause major issues about the cameras. Also, if the criminals have heard of these CCT surveillances, they would most likely try to come out with a crime perfect enough, so that the cameras will be unable to capture them.

Xu Zhi Kang's(18) reply to Ryan Cheng's (5) reply to Xu Zhi Kang

If cctv can save lives all that does not matter, would you rather prevent crimes or would you rather have your privacy?

Ryan Cheng's (5) reply to Xu Zhi Kang

Zhi Kang's comment was this:

I think the cctv is useful as it will help in monitoring the city and help reduce crime rate because the criminals are aware that the police is watching them and if they did anything the police will know at once.

If there was a crime and the suspect is unknown we can just check the cctv to find out who is the criminal. Therefore, making it easier to arrest the criminal instead of investigating all the evidence.

While i agree that  CCTVs have many advantages, it must also be noted that they have their disadvantages. Wear and tear, invasion of privacy, and intentional damage are just some of the issues that must be addressed when installing CCTVs

Teo Xinyuan (36) Reply to Jonathan Soh's (19) comment

Jonathan's comment was this:

I think the advantages of having a CCTV camera is that firstly, it will reduce the crime rate since criminals are strongly discouraged to commit illegal acts because they are aware that their crime will be recorded. Another advantage is that if a crime is committed, it will be easier to identify the criminals from the recording of the CCTV cameras, making the search and arrest of the criminals easier.

My Reply

Although CCTV cameras can record crimes, as you said. There still will be a few blind spots. From these blind spots, criminals can use spray paint or any other way to stop the CCTVs from recording their crime. And CCTVs aren't perfect. They cannot unmasked a masked person. It is also a fact that public privacy will no longer be in existence if CCTVs are installed. Whats more, the cost of installing these CCTVs can be used to do other things more meaningful.

Dillon Wee 11

I think that it is a good idea to install CCTVs as it is more secure because of the imaging capabilities that an alarm doesn't have. It reduces crime rate as terrorist attacks like the London Bombing suspects can be traced down to prevent future attacks. On the other hand, there is a loss of privacy and many people object to this. I myself do not think highly of this idea but won't mind if singapore uses the idea of installing CCTVs around the island.

John Ng (16) Comment Alvin Chia (7) Question 3

Alvin said ''I think Singapore should step up on CCTV surveillance in light of the economic downturn. As more people will be out of jobs, some may turn to illegal means of getting money - illegal gambling, pick pocketing, robbing, among others.

Some may also borrow money from loan sharks. If the borrower were unable to pay up, the loan shark would resort to harassment of the person or his neighbours to force him to pay up.

All these incidents contributed to the increase in crimes. Based on police reports, residential break-ins and loan shark harassment had increased by more than 10% in the first three months of this year, compared to last year.

Hence, there is a need to increase CCTV surveillance to prevent crimes from happening.''

I agree with you that more people will be out of jobs, they may turn to illegal means of getting money - illegal gambling, pick pocketing, robbing, among others but even if they gamble illegally, they would play in an enclosed and deserted area, like someone's house or an isolated area where CCTVs would not be installed. There is so much happening in every corner of Singapore. We cant possibly install more CCTVs just to surveil the high theft area of Singapore. It would be pointless and would cost a lot. It would be far too expensive. No one would sponsor or install it as now we are having an economic downturn.

You also said that some may also borrow money from loan sharks. If the borrower were unable to pay up, the loan shark would resort to harassment of the person or his neighbours to force him to pay up but the loan shark can harass the person anywhere, they could harass him at a deserted alley where CCTV would never be installed there as it is pointless.

You said that all these incidents contributed to the increase in crimes. Based on police reports, residential break-ins and loan shark harassment had increased by more than 10% in the first three months of this year, compared to last year but you did not describe how the CCTVs actually aid in the apprehending of the culprits and loan sharks.

Even if we step up on CCTVs, we would need many people to watch at the hundred or thousand many screens. It would be quite pointless just to sit there and watch the hundred or thousand many screens. Besides, it would be quite a boring and lifeless job.

Jeremy Ho (15) Opinions on CCT

To me, CCT is useful as it helps to keep watch of the happenings in the city and could reduce the crimes committed as the cameras help to record what had happened at a particular time, maybe a crime in action or even a murder. These evidence could even help to solve crimes as the cameras might have caught the suspect in action and would thus make the catch of the criminal swift. Although the CCT seems to be very useful, there is also a downside. Since it monitors the city all the time, your privacy could be invaded. The CCT may also have caught you in some of the moments in which you could be doing a foolish act.

Kevin Wong (39) Comment

"Desmond Tay (35) Question 3

I do not think that Singapore should spend money on security systems that require constant checks and repairs. Instead of spending money on items such as cameras, sound alarms should be installed instead, which will alert everyone of an intruder instead of just observing the intruder. This will lead to much less work being given to police such as a need for investigation. The money can also be used to hire security guards instead, which could actually do something about the crime, as well as help those in need by giving them a job."

Comments on Desmond's entry:

Everything needs checks and repairs. Nothing is infallible. Therefore, it is more worthwhile to spend on CCTV cameras so that each camera can be seen by another, be it at the very edge, we can still see who tampered with them. If we were to spend on sound systems, they only alert people and are not very useful. For example, if it is at night at a HDB estate or a landed property, if the alarm trips, it is a very noisy and a nuisance. Also, if the people are asleep or out, the thief will grab anything he sees and runs. You have no evidence and by the time you reach the crime, the guy is gone. I know because this happened to my father. By the time he went down to the scene, the guy had taken his laptop and disappeared. And because there was no CCTV, the guy got away scot free. Nobody was alerted and the police (he was in Israel) couldn't nail the guy. About security guards, not many places are bothered to hire them. For one, they have to hire a lot of them to cover the whole mall, also they can be sick, too slow to respond, .etc. But, now, malls employ a few guards and install alarms and CCTVs everywhere apart from the restrooms. Therefore, the guards can locate the problem and get there pronto. It is more efficient than having many guards. Also, not many people want to be security guards. It is one of the jobs Singaporeans would not want to do.

Opinion About CCTV ( Lee Jia Ying 22 )

The thought of being monitored by the authorities via the use of CCTV is rather creepy. I am sure that we all need to have our own personal time and privacy, but if there are CCTVs all over the place, there would be no such thing as privacy would there? However it is true that they reduce robberies and loan shark harassments. Thus I feel that we need to weigh it against other factors before implementing it.

Xu Zhi Kang(18)--Question 1

I think the cctv is useful as it will help in monitoring the city and help reduce crime rate because the criminals are aware that the police is watching them and if they did anything the police will know at once.

If there was a crime and the suspect is unknown we can just check the cctv to find out who is the criminal. Therefore, making it easier to arrest the criminal instead of investigating all the evidence.

Jonathan Soh (19) Question 1

I think the advantages of having a CCTV camera is that firstly, it will reduce the crime rate since criminals are strongly discouraged to commit illegal acts because they are aware that their crime will be recorded. Another advantage is that if a crime is committed, it will be easier to identify the criminals from the recording of the CCTV cameras, making the search and arrest of the criminals easier.

Alvin Chia (7) Question 3

I think Singapore should step up on CCTV surveillance in light of the economic downturn. As more people will be out of jobs, some may turn to illegal means of getting money - illegal gambling, pick pocketing, robbing, among others.

Some may also borrow money from loan sharks. If the borrower were unable to pay up, the loan shark would resort to harassment of the person or his neighbours to force him to pay up.

All these incidents contributed to the increase in crimes. Based on police reports, residential break-ins and loan shark harassment had increased by more than 10% in the first three months of this year, compared to last year.

Hence, there is a need to increase CCTV surveillance to prevent crimes from happening.

Khoo Hong Liang (20) Question 2

Disadvantages of CCTV surveillance

There are many disadvantages of CCTV surveillance such as privacy invasion and it also changes the behavior of children that are under it, but the most serious problem is privacy invasion.

Privacy invasion

Every time when the amount of CCTV increases, the amount of privacy decreases. If CCTV is installed in a public toilet, it wouldn't be very nice.

Behavior of children

When the children are under the CCTV surveillance they tend to be a good boy, but once they are out of the CCTV surveillance, they change into a rough and bad boy.

Nicholas Seet Kai Wen (31)

The advantages of CCTV is that we can monitor the going-ons in the city. It is effective at keeping watch, preventing crime from happening, and help solve crime more effectively.
The disadvantages of CCTV is that that we have to waste a lot of time and money on the CCTV and restricts our privacy.
Yes, as there the rate of crime is rather high.
It intrudes our privacy, as it knows who we are going out with and stuff.

GERALD TONG 38 2h
Disadvantages OF CCT SURVEILLANCE

It prevents robberies and crime from happening.However, soon if more cct surveillance are put to use, people will think of more other ways to escape being seen on the cct surveillance and soon there will be more crime and robberies again.Like residents buying fake cct surveillance just to scare away the robbers, soon the robbers will know it is fake.People should stay more alert and vigilant as you cannot just count on the cct surveillance and think that it is safe. Rather alarms are more useful compared to cct surveillance as it is small.

Tiew Yong Xian (37) Question 2

The disadvantages of CCTV surveillance are that they are very fragile and are easily destroyed.
They can just be shut out with some cloth or paint and rendered useless. They are also unable to withstand conditions such as rain.

Justin Ng (30)--Question 1

Advantages of a CCT Surveillance

There are many advantages of CCT Surveillance. One of the main advantages is to be able to keep watch, which is also the CCT Surveillance purpose. Being able to keep watch with the CCT Surveillance will decrease crime rates as one would be able to track criminals easily. Like said in the article, CNN-Big Brothers will be watching you, Hollywood has CCT Surveillance cameras placed around the area, and over the years, police have noted a 60% drop in crime rates in the area. Thus, if this surveillance can be magnified to span over a whole country, there would most likely, and possibly a huge drop in crime rates in the country. Also, surveillance will be able to keep law in order. This is because with today's technology, small details can be caught on tape. Even small crimes like speeding; one can be caught on tape easily due to the CCT surveillance catching them "red handed" by filming down their liscense plate. Another reason for crime drop rates can also possibly be because criminals are aware of the CCT Surveillance and think twice before acting. Therefore another advantage can be that it allows first time criminals to reconsider their actions.

Ryan Cheng (5)

  I feel that CCTV cameras are useful as they act as a deterrent against threats and can provide critical evidence during trials and police investigations. However, there is no need to use them with extreme intensity, as it is unnecessary and costly. I feel that CCTVs should only be used in appropriate places like shops or bus terminals. Concerning privacy, I am not overtly concerned as I have nothing to hide. However, if the CCTV cameras are positioned somewhere sensitive like in a toilet, then of course issues on privacy will have to be addressed.

Kevin Wong (39) Question 3

Yes, I do think that Singapore should step up on CCTV surveillance. This should be done because, in the light of the recent economic downturn, people are resorting to stealing, robbing, going to loan sharks, etc. Also, this ring of surveillance, can, for example, track a robber and help police catch these people. Although people would say it would intrude on privacy, if they haven't done anything wrong, they would not fear anything. The con is that people, tourists, may damage it or remove it. Also, everyone, or anyone would think that their privacy is being invaded. But, they still want security. But, everything comes at a price. If you want security, you must let go of some of your privacy. The whole Singapore police force can't be patrolling every single square foot of Singapore!

Therefore, Singapore should take a poll whether to install security cameras. Then, they should do as the majority want. But i say they should install it.

John Ng (16) Question 2

The biggest problem of CCTV cameras is the feeling of invasion of privacy. Even though it is just a small rectangular object, most of us do not like something or someone keeping an eye on us. Most of us just thinks it is a hindrance then of good help. CCTV cameras are very sensitive. Even a strong punch can cause them damage. Once the CCTV cameras are damage, the location or thing will be out of surveillance unless it is repaired or replaced. In fact, if someone sticks a paper or an opaque object on the lens, the CCTV cameras goes ''blind''. CCTV cameras also cannot withstand extreme environmental conditions like rain, powerful winds, etc. Hence their use is limited to indoor facilities only.

Desmond Tay (35) Question 3

I do not think that Singapore should spend money on security systems that require constant checks and repairs. Instead of spending money on items such as cameras, sound alarms should be installed instead, which will alert everyone of an intruder instead of just observing the intruder. This will lead to much less work being given to police such as a need for investigation. The money can also be used to hire security guards instead, which could actually do something about the crime, as well as help those in need by giving them a job.

Teo Xinyuan (36) Question 1

I feel that security cameras are useful as they can help prevent crime or terrorism. It can also give the police information about an upcoming protest, riot or strike. This can allow an environment that is safer and much more peaceful. It can allow the police to find out about the ones involved in robberies and other crimes, allowing a much easier capture of the culprit.