The Toronto Police Service has installed cameras in the Weston area with the intention of reducing crime and apprehending those who commit crimes. The community has been consulted in this move. CCTV cameras represent one of the best ways available to make our communities safer. The events in Boston this week show how important publicly installed cameras are in leading to arrests and restoring public confidence. To those who say that cameras do not reduce crime, we say don’t be too sure. We will guarantee anyone that an arrested criminal is a criminal who has been slowed down. The misguided idea held by some opponents of CCTV that they are used to follow and spy on people is nonsense. No one even looks at these cameras until there has been a crime. The standard to apply to CCTV video is simple. Is there abuse? Video is like all evidence. Our open and rule-of-law society should feel fully comfortable with cameras, just as the public does in the United Kingdom where CCTV are everywhere.
