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
May 27, 2008 at 1:42 pm
[...] Chief King says the cameras can be monitored by desk clerks in addition to their other tasks. NotionsCapital suggests that the chief work a weekend overnight shift at the precinct desk with the highest complaint rate before considering this idea one second longer. The simple truth is that real-time video surveillance is incredibly labor-intensive, and even the forensic use of video recordings is not very effective in convicting suspects. Who says? Scotland Yard. [...]
February 12, 2009 at 5:48 pm
[...] plowed billions into their useless police CCTV system.” It’s been an utter fiasco,” said Detective Chief Inspector Mick Neville of New Scotland [...]