MORE CCTV ON LONDON'S STREETS DOESN'T HELP SOLVE CRIME

10.00.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 19th Sep 2007

The eye in the sky has become a familiar scene on our streets and Londoners are now the most watched people on earth. But at what cost? The Liberal Democrats on the London Assembly this week published a survey showing that there is no link between a high number of CCTV cameras and a better crime clear-up rate.

CCTV - a solution to crime?

Liberal Democrat Policing spokesperson on the London Assembly, Dee Doocey, said:

"Across London, a mere 1 in 5 crimes get solved and boroughs with thousands of CCTV cameras are no better at doing so than those which have a few dozen. CCTV cameras have cost the taxpayer in the region of £200m in the last 10 years. Some of this money might have been better spent on police officers. Although CCTV has its place, it is not the only solution in preventing or detecting crime and too often still, calls for CCTV cameras come as a knee jerk reaction. It is time we engaged in an open debate about the role of CCTV cameras in London today"

A full breakdown of the number of CCTV owned and operated by each London Borough can be found at http://www.glalibdems.org.uk/resources/index/Policing%20London