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From The Times
February 25, 2005

CCTV cameras fail to cut crime

By Richard Ford
CLOSED-CIRCUIT television cameras have little effect in cutting crime, according to a Home Office study.

Only one of fourteen CCTV schemes was found to cause a fall in criminal activity. The researchers looked at projects operating in town and city centres, car parks, hospitals and residential areas. Only one showed a cut in crime which could be attributed to CCTV.

People did not necessarily feel safer knowing that the cameras had been installed in particular areas, researchers found.

Fewer people rather than more said they would go out more once cameras were installed. The Home Office spent £170 million on 684 local projects between 1998 and 2003.

It said that there was no further funding planned for more cameras but said that police and local authorities could still pay for more out of their own budgets.

A Home Office official said that the police continued to regard CCTV as essential in tackling crime. She pointed out that CCTV had helped to solve a number of high-profile murder cases, including the tracing of the Soho Bomber and the killers of James Bulger.

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David Wighton

open quote mark With luck, the taxpayer could make a tidy profit, as happened with the Swedish bank rescue plan in the early 1990s close quote mark

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