WASHINGTON, Aug. 10 (UPI) -- Washington police Thursday began installing closed-circuit television cameras in four high-crime neighborhoods.
The installation, which follows a declaration of a citywide crime emergency in July, is meant to deter and catch criminals in 14th and Girard streets Northwest, the 400 block of O Street Northwest, the 1200 block of Valley Avenue Southeast, and between the 1500 and 1700 blocks of Benning Road Northeast, The Washington Times reported.
"The deployment of CCTV cameras in D.C. neighborhoods is not a panacea to the serious problems of crime and violence on our streets," Metropolitan Police Chief Charles H. Ramsey said. "But the cameras do provide us with one additional crime-fighting tool that will help to deter criminal activity in the first place and, if crimes do occur, help us identify, apprehend and convict the offenders."
Police said they expect to complete the installation by the end of the week.
