http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2008/03/21/MN27VNFET.DTL

Quote :

"They looked at seven types of crime: larcenies, burglaries, motor vehicle theft, assault, robbery, homicide and forcible sex offenses. The only positive deterrent effect was the reduction of larcenies within 100 feet of the cameras. No other crimes were affected - except for homicides, which had an interesting pattern. Murders went down within 250 feet of the cameras, but the reduction was completely offset by an increase 250 to 500 feet away, suggesting people moved down the block before killing each other."

but....

Quote :

"Mayor Gavin Newsom called the report "conclusively inconclusive" on Thursday but said he still wants to install more cameras around the city because they make residents feel safer."

It's good to know that it's not just the TSA that likes to spend taxpayer money on initiatives that make you feel safe rather than actually make you safe.

One can't help but wonder if maybe the money would have been better spent putting beat cops in the camera locations rather than cameras.

3/22/2008 11:19:06 AM

Quote :

"feel safer"

3/22/2008 1:31:45 PM

probably should get them some segways, too

3/22/2008 2:41:25 PM

Well if they installed cameras everywhere then homicides would just get pushed completely out of the city. I don't think having cameras everywhere is a good thing though. There are better ways to reduce crime.

3/22/2008 3:17:23 PM

Did you guys hear about, Dallas?, that started to remove red light cameras because ticket revenues started going down?

I mean you said camera and i thought of that so.

3/22/2008 4:50:53 PM

http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/brooklyn/2008/03/21/2008-03-21_200_surveillance_cameras_at_van_dyke_hou-1.html


This makes me think of a favorite quote from my dad:

Quote :

"I carry a gun because carrying a police officer around all day is tiring."

[Edited on March 22, 2008 at 11:05 PM. Reason : .]

3/22/2008 11:03:47 PM