Urban Video Surveillance as a Tool to Improve Security in Public Spaces

Video surveillance is an integral part of the contemporary world. Its use increases the sense of security but also generates certain risks. Laws do not always clearly and comprehensively define the rules for installing and using video surveillance and different rules are adopted in different countries to address these issues. This article presents an analysis of statistical data concerning urban video surveillance as a tool to improve the security of public spaces in the city of Katowice using the example of the operation of the Katowice Smart Surveillance and Analysis System. By presenting the operation of video surveillance in two different time periods, it was possible to assess the effectiveness of urban video surveillance for the security of public spaces in terms of particularly onerous crimes. The technical and organizational solutions applied, as in the case of the Katowice Smart Surveillance and Analysis System, made it possible to assess the impact of the operation of the system on offenses and the number of legal proceedings.