graffiti cameras net 0 arrests, despite surge in graffiti complaints

Four months ago, police and city officials announced with much fanfare that Denver would be the first in the nation to try out video surveillance cameras designed to catch graffiti vandals.

At the time, the president and chief executive of the company that developed the cutting-edge spyware said he was confident Denver would experience "significant cost savings" within 30 to 45 days of the cameras' deployment through arrests and restitutions.

So much for all the hoopla.

Despite a spike in graffiti complaints to City Council members, the cameras haven't led to a single arrest.

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/mar/13/graffiti-cams-still-looking-for-first-bust/

I always find it interesting when there are examples of a government program failing, like crime prevention cameras, more governments jump on the bandwagon to adopt the same failed programs. Denver police could have done a little research into the effects that crime reduction cameras have had in London to help determine if they would do any good here, the facts are out now and crime in London has not been reduced by cameras. The graffiti rate in Denver has not been reduced by cameras either. Sure the cameras have shifted things around somewhat, but it is not a success if the taggers used to hit the left side of the building and now they hit the right side. Now with a proven track record of failure, other governments will be lining up to adopt similar programs.