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S.F. video cameras don't deter crime, study shows
San Francisco Chronicle ^ | March 20, 2008 | Heather Knight

Posted on 03/20/2008 11:21:26 PM PDT by walkerk

A new UC Berkeley study of San Francisco's 68 security cameras appears to indicate what many city officials have long suspected: The controversial devices perched at the city's roughest street corners don't have much of an effect on violent crime.

The researchers examined 59,706 crimes occurring within 1,000 feet of the cameras between Jan. 1, 2005 and Jan. 28, 2008. While homicides within 250 feet of the cameras were down, they spiked in the areas 250 to 500 feet from the cameras - indicating people just moved down the street to kill each other.

Other violent crimes had no change. The only cameras' only positive effect appears to be the 22 percent drop in property crime within 100 feet of the cameras, though people broke into cars parked near the cameras at the same rate as they did before the cameras were installed, according to the study released today.

(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Government
KEYWORDS:
Surely more cameras will solve the problem.
1 posted on 03/20/2008 11:21:26 PM PDT by walkerk
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To: walkerk

Their problem is too many barbarians, but you’ll never get a liberal to even say the word.


2 posted on 03/20/2008 11:32:10 PM PDT by SWAMPSNIPER (THE SECOND AMENDMENT, A MATTER OF FACT, NOT A MATTER OF OPINION)
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To: walkerk

Yes, a camera every 100 feet in every direction should do the trick.

For the 68 cameras, over a three-year period, there was about one crime per day for each camera.

“they just moved down the street to kill each other” - great line.

I left my heart in San Francisco, but they got a good picture of the guy who took it.


3 posted on 03/20/2008 11:47:57 PM PDT by Rocky
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To: walkerk

4 posted on 03/21/2008 1:37:29 AM PDT by OeOeO
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To: walkerk
Problem is, they're using the video after the crime is committed rather than have police respond when the crime is in progress.

-Traveler

5 posted on 03/21/2008 3:08:16 AM PDT by Traveler59 (Truth is a journey, not a destination.)
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To: walkerk
Surely more cameras will solve the problem

It's doing wonders in the UK...NOT!

6 posted on 03/21/2008 4:47:53 AM PDT by Puppage (You may disagree with what I have to say, but I shall defend to your death my right to say it)
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To: Traveler59
rather than have police respond when the crime is in progress

The police show up in time to tape off the crime scene & photograph the lifeless body.

7 posted on 03/21/2008 4:49:10 AM PDT by Puppage (You may disagree with what I have to say, but I shall defend to your death my right to say it)
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To: walkerk

They should put the cameras in the city-council chambers while the council votes to treat the U.S. Military like garbage, instead of the heroes they are - one of the most grievous of all crimes.


8 posted on 03/21/2008 5:50:05 AM PDT by LZ_Bayonet (There's Always Something.............And there's always something worse!)
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To: SWAMPSNIPER

we are NOT all equal.


9 posted on 03/21/2008 5:50:42 AM PDT by television is just wrong
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To: Puppage

If the police responded while the crime was in progress they would: 1. Be accused of arresting people for “thought crime” because they would have to guess what was happening before it happened (didn’t someone make a movie...?). 2. Get there while the bullets were flying, therefore putting their own life in danger...risking a union lawsuit against the city for reckless endangerment. 3. In any case it is a fact of law that the police are not required to protect any one person against any crime, therefore it would be a crime to show up too early!


10 posted on 03/21/2008 6:27:23 AM PDT by junkman_106 (Once is chance, twice is coincidence, thrice is enemy action ---007/Ian Fleming)
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To: junkman_106
In any case it is a fact of law that the police are not required to protect any one person against any crime

You are correct. Police have what is called indemnification. Ie they can't be sued for NOT reaching the victim "in time".

Which is probably a good thing, because then they'd spend all their time in court.

11 posted on 03/21/2008 6:32:27 AM PDT by Puppage (You may disagree with what I have to say, but I shall defend to your death my right to say it)
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To: Puppage

It’s not a “good” thing but seems to be necessary. However, those idiots who are forever getting elected by the public (demanding to be protected) are using the unwritten (?) assumption to disarm all of us law-abiding citizens. “Call a Cop; when seconds count, they are only minutes away”


12 posted on 03/21/2008 10:48:16 AM PDT by junkman_106 (Once is chance, twice is coincidence, thrice is enemy action ---007/Ian Fleming)
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To: junkman_106
It’s not a “good” thing but seems to be necessary

Necessary for what?

13 posted on 03/21/2008 10:51:47 AM PDT by Puppage (You may disagree with what I have to say, but I shall defend to your death my right to say it)
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To: Puppage

To give them something to do/sarc


14 posted on 03/21/2008 11:06:16 AM PDT by junkman_106 (Once is chance, twice is coincidence, thrice is enemy action ---007/Ian Fleming)
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