From: Adam 

Dave Ings wrote:
> Adam, Phil, do you know what Home Office study is being referred to? The
> article also mentions (Phil's) recent observation that cameras tend to push
> crime between jurisdictions.
>
> http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/23/weekinreview/23fountain.html
>
> It'S spring, and a new crop of police surveillance cameras is sprouting in
> cities big and small. New York is installing 500 on street corners; Chicago
> is upgrading several thousand; and even the city of Dillingham, Alaska, has
> 80 - one for every 30 residents.
>
> Many of these newer cameras can pan, tilt and zoom, and are networked
> through the Internet, so video images can be viewed and stored centrally.
> They are often purchased with homeland security funds, meant for use against
> terrorism as well as street crime.
> ...
>
> But some security experts say the cameras are of limited value - largely in
> helping investigators after a crime - and are not cost-effective. They point
> to a large study by the Home Office in Britain, which has perhaps the
> world's most videotaped population, that found cameras to be ineffective in
> reducing crime, except in locations like parking garages. And even
> scientists involved in the development of visual recognition software
> acknowledge that the programs do not work well enough yet.
>


I know it but if I am correct the full text never went out for political reasons.

BTW The one that made me laugh on this was that a HO study showed that
speed cameras in pedestrian zones (e.g. near a school) were much more
dangerous than not having one as everyone concentrates on the camera &
their speed & thus don't see the kiddie running into the road.

That one was quietly shelved i.e. bits of use to the ministers was released
& other parts not of ummmm.......use were redacted.

Ditto this report.

Numerous factors

A) Behaviour modification. Once people get used to cameras then they adapt
e.g. in the UK every youf worth his or her salt wears a hoodie (a hooded
top) just as crims always have (e.g. "Robin the Hood", hoodlums
etc). Grey unmarked hooded top + jeans & how much use will the camera
be.

My favourite wrt (esp) the Bosnian/Albanians is the group theft i.e. you
shop in a group & use one person "holding something up to have a
look at it" as a curtain behind which pockets/bags are
picked/shoplifting occurs etc.

B) Crime displacement. Mug people once they've left the shopping area etc.


Adam

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