Police Commission Hearing on Government Surveillance

The Police Commission has supported the installation of cameras because they say “the community wants them”. Please join concerned citizens to testify that the community wants REAL solutions, not empty political gestures that put our civil liberties at risk.

We all want safe communities, but video cameras are not the solution. The expanded video surveillance program should be rejected because:

*Cameras do not reduce crime. Study after study demonstrates that video surveillance cameras do not reduce crime or the fear of crime in the long run. Crime just moves from one corner to another. You can take a look at the studies here at the bottom of the page under "other links".

*Cameras threaten privacy and free speech rights. Government is allowed to track what you are doing and where you are going.

*Cameras are expensive. The funds proposed for the surveillance cameras could be better spent on more effective crime-reduction measures such as increased foot patrols, community policing, or better lighting. Simply improving street lighting has been proven to reduce crime by an average of 20%.

For more information about government surveillance, please click here

LET US KNOW YOU'RE COMING to the hearing by emailing ndye@aclunc.org or calling 415-621-2493.