British Columbia Basic Security Training Practice Exam

What is a key reason for using CCTV in a security strategy?

1. To intimidate suspects

2. To collect evidence after incidents occur

3. To monitor and prevent potential incidents

4. To track employee productivity

The correct answer is: To monitor and prevent potential incidents

CCTV, or closed-circuit television, is an essential component of a security strategy primarily because it serves the purpose of monitoring and preventing potential incidents in real-time. By providing continuous surveillance, CCTV allows security personnel to observe activities as they happen, enabling them to detect suspicious behaviors or situations before they escalate into more serious incidents. This proactive approach is crucial in maintaining safety and security in various environments, whether it's a retail store, office building, or public space. While the other options may have certain relevance, they do not encapsulate the primary role of CCTV as effectively as monitoring and prevention. Intimidating suspects may be a secondary effect of visible surveillance, but it is not the main reason for its implementation. Collecting evidence after incidents is indeed one of the functionalities of CCTV, but this reactive approach comes after an event has occurred, whereas real-time monitoring acts to prevent incidents from happening in the first place. Tracking employee productivity, while it may occur through CCTV use, is typically not the foundational reason for its deployment in security contexts. The primary aim remains focused on the immediate observation and prevention of security breaches.