Police, politicians push surveillance post-Boston
May 2, 2013, 8:43 AM
LOS ANGELES (AP) – Police and politicians across the United States are pointing to the use of video surveillance that helped identify the Boston Marathon bombing suspects as a reason to get more electronic eyes on their streets.
The proposals are coming from Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Houston, San Francisco and Chicago, among other cities. They include efforts to access cameras used to monitor traffic and allowing officers regular and more integrated access to security footage taken by private businesses.
Experts say surveillance networks will continue to grow, especially after the example of Boston.
The increase in video, whether in the form of a handheld smartphone or government-run camera, is likely to occur despite the millions such systems may cost, and Americans’ traditional reluctance to give government more law enforcement powers.
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