March 28, 2006
Uses for Police Camera Footage?
From InformationWeek:
A federal court in NY will hear an important case related regarding video surveillance. Can police "take and keep video footage of people participating in political demonstrations." This issue happened during the 2004 Republican National Convention in New York. The outcome of this case will be important for government use of surveillance cameras. Unlike in Europe, there are no laws in the US limiting the use of surveillance camera footage. Stay tuned . .
Posted by rshah at 12:06 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
March 23, 2006
Smart Airport Screeners
From Wired News:
Scheier's latest column argues that we should rely on technology for boring repetitive tasks, such as screening luggage at airports. I totally agree and believe that same is true for smart cameras. They are not a solution for tasks that take real "smarts", but are a useful for reducing the mundane tasks.
Posted by rshah at 03:24 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
March 21, 2006
Can't Resist Leering
From Reuters in The New Zealand Herald:
Operators just can't stop leering through cameras. This problem has been amply documented, but is tough to stop. The latest was during Spencer Tunick's photo shoot with 1700 naked volunteers. From the article:
Close-up surveillance camera images of some of the naked participants have been offered for sale to drinkers in Tyneside pubs, and Northumbria police have begun an investigation into "possible misuse of CCTV footage".
"We've spoken to a number of officers and police staff and as a result two members of staff are in the process of being suspended," said Deputy Chief Constable David Warcup.
Posted by rshah at 08:57 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
March 18, 2006
Cameras on Buses
From WBBM 780:
The CTA will test a system that allows nearby police cars to see what's happening aboard some of its buses. WBBM's Bob Roberts reports the six-month test will be conducted on the 56/Milwaukee and 62/Archer bus routes.
Cameras board 50 buses will be equipped with wireless transmitting equipment that will allow personnel at several "L" stations, in 16 police squad cars and in four CTA first- responder vehicles to see what's happening.
The images also will be transmitted from the "L" stations over the CTA's fiber-optic network to its Control Center. . . . All CTA buses have been equipped with security cameras and recorders since 2003. Already, CTA has 362 security cameras at 26 stations, and expansions of the wired network are planned.
Posted by rshah at 10:15 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
March 07, 2006
Policy for Using Cameras
Story on masslive.com about guidelines for camera usage. The rules were modeled on rules adopted in Chicago.
I couldn't find the Chicago rules online, but I found two others. Middletown, NY and State College, PA
Update:
John Hopkins policy statement
Update 2:
San Luis Obispo policy and news story about it
Posted by rshah at 02:27 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
March 05, 2006
Cameras giving crooks the blues in Chicago?
From the Suntimes:
A newspaper report by Mark Konkol evaluates the success of the cameras in Chicago. Up until this point, the only data on the camera's success has come from city personnel. Konkol reviews the data on four locations before and after the cameras were installed. He also notes the many limitations to any finding of direct causation, because there are lots of variables at play including "weather conditions, traffic patterns, police activity and such." You will have to read the article (and look at the attached graphic) for all the data. Here is part of the writeup:
A look at crime before and after four cameras were installed on the stretch of Chicago from Harding to Homan shows the surveillance cameras can be effective, police say. The number of reported crimes there jumped, along with a spike in drug dealing arrests. In all, there were 67 narcotics arrests at those four locations during the six months before cameras were installed. In the following six months, officers made 179 drug arrests at those hot spots, police said.
"As soon as cameras go in, crime is disrupted, especially narcotics sales. Put cameras where people are selling drugs, and narcotics selling goes away. Open-air drug markets are immediately affected," said Lt. Dave Blanco, who heads the surveillance camera detail.
A closer look at the crime statistics, though, shows it's rather hard to tell -- from corner to corner -- if the cameras actually reduce crime. For instance, at Chicago and Harding, the number of calls to police reporting drug dealing and battery increased 31 percent during the six-month period after cameras were installed. But just three blocks away, at 801 N. Hamlin, police calls for drug dealing dropped 288 percent -- from 175 to 45 -- in the six months after cameras went in.
Posted by rshah at 09:07 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
March 01, 2006
Results in Baltimore
From Times Leader:
A story with some statistics on the effect of cameras on crime in Baltimore. According to the article, Baltimore installed 270 cameras and the system has been operation since May 2005.
The city deployed the cameras downtown and in three of the city’s roughest neighborhoods, and they’ve had a tremendous effect, Mahoney said. In one of the three neighborhoods, police statistics show violent crime fell off nearly 50 percent since the cameras were installed. Overall, violent crime in areas with the cameras has dropped 18 percent.
Downtown cameras are monitored by a security company. Elsewhere, the city has hired retired police officers, Mahoney said. The former cops watch live video feeds at the precinct house and dispatch police officers immediately to trouble spots.
Posted by rshah at 06:46 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack