Through a program called Safe City, officials have installed 31 surveillance cameras in high-crime areas, parks and other locations around the city, according to the Sun. To help allay any privacy concerns, local police also established a Citizens Privacy Council, which has access to the cameras at all times to prevent any improper use.
Officials were motivated to help fund the project after seeing the results of video surveillance programs in other local cities, the paper reports. Police in nearby Redlands have installed almost 100 security cameras over the past few years.
"The cameras have been tremendously helpful, especially when you consider the kinds of cuts our city and other cities have made because of the economy," Redlands spokesman Carl Baker told the paper.
The Safe City program has been implemented in a number of cities nationwide. Other cities which have implemented a system include Boston, Denver, Orland and Fresno. Systems are also currently being installed in Baltimore, Miami and Washington, D.C.
