The Strategic Operations center (CEO), overseen by the Minister of Security has upped its count of surveillance cameras from 25 to 100 in the course of the last year.
Although the purpose is for crime prevention, there has been controversy on this topic also, as some people consider it spying.
Most people are happy the cameras are in place, as it is perceived to make criminals think twice about committing a crime and also helps police identify crimes in progress.
Raul Levrino, Secretary of Citizen Security, helps to justify the cameras with statistics that 100 prevention procedures have been deployed, 313 people have been identified as acting suspicious, 5 drug busts have occurred, 44 people have been arrested for damage and/or theft, and 17 people have been arrested with outstanding warrants,.
Legal and political entities in Mendoza are still working out ongoing details on how the cameras may be used without sacrificing the privacy of innocent citizens.
Translated digest of the article "Ya hay 100 cámaras de vigilancia instaladas en calles de la Capital" written by Gastón Bustelo for Diario Los Andes. Photos by Diario Los Andes.
The original article is available at:
http://www.losandes.com.ar/notas/2010/6/7/sociedad-494498.asp
