Closed-circuit television (CCTV) technology has increasingly been used by domestic and family violence (DFV) organisations to provide safety and security to victim-survivors of DFV. However, there has been a lack of research on the impacts of CCTV when used by victim-survivors. Drawing upon a national survey of 125 DFV practitioners and interviews with 15 DFV support service representatives, nine victim-survivors and four private security workers, this study demonstrates that CCTV can have important positive impacts on the wellbeing of victim-survivors. Specifically, the use of CCTV by victim-survivors can enhance their feelings of safety and security and provide a mechanism for them to capture threatening or potentially illegal behaviours. However, there are also a few considerable risks posed by CCTV use that should be recognised. For example, some victim-survivors may become hypervigilant. This report details the risks and benefits of CCTV use for victim-survivors.
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