8/06/2007

Predictions on surveillance cameras

I wonder whether there will be a difference in the change in crime rates between the summer and winter with these cameras. Surely there are fewer crimes that take place in the winter, but my guess is that the drop will be smaller then because in Chicago (one of the cities mentioned in the story) most people where some hood or face mask, thus negating the benefit of the camera.

Most people in the United States have no reservations regarding the use of video cameras in public places as a way to improve safety, according to a poll by TNS released by the Washington Post and ABC News. 71 per cent of respondents support having public surveillance cameras, while 25 per cent do not. . . . .

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4 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

What I find most disturbing is that 70% of the sheeple have no problem with their right to privacy being stripped away from them. That, or they're willing to strip the rights away from everyone else, too.

8/07/2007 12:46 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I'm not sure what 'most people' must be thinking these camera systems are capable of. Are they under the illusion that there is always "someone watching over us"? That they will stop crime?

To have that kind of 24/7 coverage would be a massive undertaking...and still wouldn't be able to _stop_ crime.

Camera tech is getting better and cheaper all the time, making blurry b&w jerky images a relic...but still, they only provide info _after the fact_.

You'll get some hi-rez footage of an islamic martyr demolishing a NY mall, or some hooded furtive street punk mugging someone...is this the kind of 'benefit' 'joe average' wishes to see mucho tax dinero spent on?

Seems to me that the incentives for private establishments to have good security cameras have paid off well in the past...maybe we should leave it at that? Yeah...I know...I'm living in a fantasy world where politicians are frugal ;-)

-dk

8/07/2007 1:08 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

The guys need to wake up, and fast. Now that Britain has coverage of CCTV cameras, and average speed speed cameras, they are to be used to track "terrorist suspects".

I have a darker than average skin for a Brit, plus a tan from frequent visits to Africa with work, add to that a beard and "middle eastern" appearance...

I often laugh about getting the extra attention at airport security, and being sent to sit further away from the cockpit door on flights, but I wouldn't laugh about being tracked everywhere by the state as they gather an excuse to frame me.

Wake up America, those cameras are dangerous, you already have enough of the distractions and happy pills of "brave new world" to give most of you a prison without bars, it would be a big mistake to have the surveilance systems of "1984" as well.

Don't just think of the good something might do, think of what evil it could do too.

Keith

8/07/2007 1:17 PM  
Blogger John Lott said...

Dear Anonymous:

I agree that these cameras can be abused, and that people are now only concentrating on the benefits. I hope that your fears are not born out, though that may be wishful thinking.

8/07/2007 4:58 PM  

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