Pubdate: Thu, 26 Feb 2009 Source: Herald, The (CN MB) Copyright: 2009 Canstar Community News Limited Contact: http://www.canstarnews.com/page/paper/the_herald Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3563 Author: Brandon Trask IT'S BEGINNING TO FEEL LIKE 1984 The launch of Winnipeg's new public video surveillance program will cause more problems than it will solve. Last Thursday, police activated the first two surveillance cameras that will record what is happening at a number of designated downtown problem areas known for drug trafficking and other criminal activities. A total of 10 cameras will eventually be activated. The video footage will typically be stored by police for 72 hours before being deleted. Police have said that they will not actively monitor the cameras as they record, but that they reserve the right to do so if they believe it becomes necessary. The footage will primarily be used in police investigations to help in the identification of suspects. In a news conference last week, Winnipeg police Supt. Gord Schumacher said, "Let me emphasize that the closed-circuit cameras are a tool used to assist officers with investigations, not a replacement for officers on the street." However, these cameras will undoubtedly cause people to have a false sense of security. It is important to remember that these cameras will not be monitored by police in real time - the video records will only be accessed in conjunction with a police investigation into a past incident. I don't see how it would be overly helpful to police to delve into video records merely to confirm that an unidentifiable individual wearing a hoodie and a balaclava was indeed responsible for a series of muggings. Several people have already stated that they will support any initiative that makes them feel safer downtown. They believe that the presence of cameras will deter individuals from committing violent crimes in the area. However, violent crime is not usually committed by normal, rational people. Most violent criminals do not run cost-benefit analyses - which would force them to now take into account a higher probability of being caught - prior to acting. The vast majority of violent crimes are inherently irrational acts. But I suppose it is comforting for individuals to believe that the mere presence of a camera will protect them. Unfortunately, this can be achieved only by having more officers physically patrolling dangerous areas. The new program will be similarly ineffective against other criminal acts, such as drug dealing, that involve rational thought, including consideration of the new threat posed by the cameras. The surveillance cameras will simply displace crime. They will not successfully reduce these acts. Addicts will still get their drugs - dealers will just move to a neighbouring street without cameras. Accordingly, criminal activity will now be less predictable and more difficult to keep in check. But at least the City will be able to boast that, by the end of the year-long pilot project, crime rates in the areas where surveillance cameras have been installed have dropped significantly. This program also raises a number of privacy concerns. Where will it end? Sure, there are just 10 cameras for now. But this program could easily continue to expand until we realize that we are living in a society in which Big Brother watches our every move. If this is not 1984 itself, it certainly seems like 1983. - --- MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart