TECHNOLOGY IN CRIME FIGHTING: AN EVALUATION OF THE USE OF CLOSE-CIRCUIT TELEVISION (CCTV) IN THE KUMASI CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT OF THE ASHANTI REGION

Abstract

Crime is among the most important problems in modern societies. In recent times, Ghanaians have been bombarded with news stories regarding grisly accounts of gun-related violence, spree killings, gangsterism, armed robberies as well as cars jacking and mobile phones snatching from the Ashanti Region, particularly the Kumasi Central Business District. As a result, this development has thus necessitated the researcher to evaluate the use of CCTV cameras in fighting crime in the Kumasi Central Business District. Specifically, the study seeks to identify the types of crime that occur in the KCBD, investigate the effectiveness of CCTV Cameras installed in fighting crime in KCBD, determine the cost and management of CCTV cameras in the KCBD and develop strategies required for effective use of CCTV cameras in solving and preventing crime in KCBD. The study made use of survey research design. Purposive sampling procedure was also used to select twenty (20) respondents, comprising 10 Police officers, 5 officials of KMA, and 5 Technical persons who are involved in the installation of CCTV cameras within the Kumasi Central Business District. The study made use of both questionnaires and focus group interviews as data collection instruments. The study found that stealing, assault, fraud, armed robbery, and murder are the major crimes in KCBD. The study confirms that the CCTV appears to have assisted in reducing crime in Kumasi Central Business District. The study revealed that the CCTV camera is effective in building feeling of security among business operators in Kumasi Central Business District. The study affirmed that the KCBD project acquired both Dome and Stationary cameras and the acquisition of the CCTV cameras costed $42000 and $20,000 respectively. Based on this, it was recommended that the government should provide a policy framework and a set of underlying principles to assist agencies considering CCTV schemes as a response to local community safety concerns.