In yet another study, this time in San Francisco, conclusions are made that reinforce previous findings that security cameras don’t work.  Researchers at the University of California have found that cameras in high crime areas do not prevent violent crimes.

The long-awaited study by the UC Center for Information Technology Research in the Interest of Society found the program is hurt by lack of training and oversight, a failure to integrate footage with other police efforts, poor quality cameras, and what may be a fundamental weakness of cameras as anti-crime devices.

Mayor Newsom began the program four years ago, but out of concern for people’s privacy, police are not allowed to monitor cameras in real time. Investigators must wait until a crime is reported before looking at footage.

In what we already know, cameras that are not monitored do nothing except become a witness to the crime.