Crime Cameras are a Bust

Detective Chief Inspector Mick Neville of New Scotland Yard runs the world’s largest police network of closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras. The British have spent billions assembling a vast digital image database and developing custom software. Not only can’t this system assist with real-time crime prevention, it isn’t much help in solving crimes retroactively and convicting criminals.

Speaking to a conference in London, DCI Neville said:

CCTV was originally seen as a preventative measure. Billions of pounds has been spent on kit[equipment], but no thought has gone into how the police are going to use the images and how they will be used in court. It’s been an utter fiasco: only 3% of crimes were solved by CCTV.

Does this sound like the VIPS system proposed for Washington DC?

Image by Mike Licht and Eric Arthur Blair. Download it here. Creative Commons license; credit Mike Licht, NotionsCapital.com