Crime Cameras: A US-City Experiment

Chelsea, Mass., and the Department of Homeland Security are teaming up on a surveillance system that has some residents concerned.

1 minute read

June 28, 2005, 5:00 AM PDT

By Chris Steins @planetizen

Now, surveillance cameras are coming back. In mid-July, Chelsea, Mass., hopes to throw the switch on a quarter-million-dollar system of 27 digital cameras with the capacity to monitor and record activity in any of its public spaces, says Jay Ash, city manager. His hope: that the system, which has cut crime in Chicago, will do the same in this high-crime city of 36,000 packed into less than two square miles.

Other small cities have similar aims. Officials in Schenectady, N.Y., reportedly plan to have eight cameras trained on the city's main commercial zone by fall. State funds will be used.

Thanks to Chris Steins

FULL STORY: Crime-busting cameras: a US-city experiment

Sunday, June 26, 2005 in The Christian Science Monitor

Community / Economic Development Massachusetts

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