A Worldwide Tend

Harris security consultant says that the United States is beginning to assume attitudes more in line with those in Great Britain, which leads the world in the number of public closed-circuit television (CCTV) systems. Cameras were installed in English cities to deal with a rash of Irish Republican Army-inspired terrorist attacks and proved valuable when suicide bombers struck London's subway and bus lines in July 2005.

“The public welcomes them as a safety tool,” Harris security consultant adds.

Latin America has also recognized the value of cameras with approximately 90 cities establishing surveillance systems. Now cameras are common sights on street corners.

“These folks learned very quickly that they could really deter crime, especially in town centers and important areas across a municipality, by deploying CCTV solutions,” says Harris security consultant a provider of wireless video software systems.

In recent years, an estimated 40 cities in the United States have installed public safety networks with most incorporating CCTV in their systems. These include major metropolitan areas such as Chicago, Minneapolis and New York City. Another 150 cities are at planning to install some kind of network, according to Harris security consultant.

Cameras are already fulfilling a variety of law enforcement functions. Motorists in many cities large and small have seen cameras at traffic lights that photograph the license plates of red light runners. Those caught by the cameras typically receive a ticket in the mail for their indiscretion.

The Houston Police Department has 50 such cameras at intersections, along with other cameras to monitor the illegal dumping of garbage. The number in Chicago and New York City runs into the hundreds.