The New York City Police Department (NYPD) is initiating a surveillance program called the “Lower Manhattan Security Initiative”. The program aims to implement public and private surveillance cameras in Lower Manhattan to identify car license plates, detect at-large terrorists and deter terrorists from carrying out attacks. The plan outlines a system of 3,000 cameras to be installed and operational by the year 2010. NYPD intends to install 116 new cameras by the end of this year.
The installation of these cameras may support prevention of a terrorist attack, but more likely an extensive and professional system of 3,000 cameras will assist police in tracking suspects after a terrorist attack is attempted.
Emulating the “Ring of Steel”
The project is modeled after the United Kingdom’s extensive system of security cameras, called the Ring of Steel, that are placed throughout the streets of London. In New York City, the cameras could be installed in fixed and mobile locations that may include cars and helicopters. The cameras will be fully equipped with technology designed to capture car license plates. The license plate readers would then send alerts to local authorities. The project also outlines a plan to install pivoting gates that could block traffic at critical intersections if a suspect car is identified.
Aside from reading license plates, the cameras will also be equipped with facial recognition software to spot potential terrorists. However, the NYPD has not yet decided whether it will use the facial technology. Current facial recognition software, matching real time images of moving faces to a digital database of photographs, has proven to be an inaccurate method of detection.
Funding for the project remains a key question for NYPD. Currently, the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) urban grant has dedicated $25 million toward the project while the New York City has raised $10 million. Installing 3,000 cameras will likely require more than $90 million dollars, yet $25 million dollars will be sufficient to proceed with the initial installation.
Privacy Concerns
According to NYPD, authorities may store camera footage for a maximum of 30 days. After 30 days, the footage is discarded or recorded over. However, civil rights advocates have criticized the program, claiming there are no outside or public safeguards for who may access the images and how the images are used.
Cameras Won’t Deter Threat
Although the project’s goal is to eliminate terrorist attacks from occurring, previous terrorist attacks in London have suggested that cameras will only assist police in tracking down the perpetrator after an attack. For example, the camera system in London did not deter the July 7, 2005 suicide bombers from attacking the metro transit system. Two weeks later, an additional group of men attempted a similar attack in London but failed. The camera system assisted police to quickly apprehend the suspects.
While the new security camera initiative could serve as a key forensic tool after a crime or terrorist attack, it is unlikely to affect terrorists who plan to carry out suicide attacks. However, we believe the cameras are an essential component to an overall effective counter terrorism mission.
