Mexico City Public Video Surveillance Faces Scrutiny
From Chile to China, lucrative safe city projects are increasing in popularity. But do more cameras equate to more safety? IPVM investigates.
Do large-scale, multimillion-dollar safe city projects stop crime? If not, what is the point in selling the cameras in the first place?
Tens of thousands of video surveillance cameras are currently operational in Mexico City and the adjacent State of Mexico. IPVM interviewed industry and local sources and examined official Mexican crime statistics, finding no clear link between more cameras and less crime, despite politicians' promises to the contrary.
This post is part of IPVM's expanded Latin America coverage. For recent IPVM Mexico coverage, please see:
- Mexico Video Surveillance Market Overview 2020
- Faulty Hikvision Fever Cam Setup at Mexico City Basilica and Cathedral
- Dahua Shipping To Mexican Manufacturer
Mexico **** ***** **************
*************** ** ********* **** ************ *********** ******* *******, **** ** *** C2,**, *** ** ***** (******* *** "My ******," ******** ** ** *****) that ******** ** ********* ***** ** 50,000–70,000 ******* ** ****** **** *** the ***** ** ******, ********* ** persons ******** **** ***** ************ ******** in ****** ****.
***** ******* ** *** ****** **** Metro ************** **** **** ** *** as ** ***** *** ********** ******** Samsung ****** *********.
Debate **** ******* *******
***** **** **** ********** ******* *** working ** *** **** *** *****, more ******** ****** *** **** ***** problems *** ***** ********.
******* *********** **** ******** **** ** millions ** ******* ** ****** ****** into ***** ***** ************ ********. ** 2019 *****, *********** ****** *** ********* won***********, ************, ******** ******** ****** *.* billion ******* ***** (**$**.* *******).
*** ******* *** ************-****** ***********, ***** media **** ********** ********** *** ******* for ****** ************ **** ******* ** offline *******.
*** *******, ********* **** ********* ******* *********** ***************** "**% ** ****** ****'* ******* Obsolete ** **** *****" *** **** a ******* ***** ***** "**** ************ System **** *** **** ***** ** Mexico ****" [*:**, ** *******]:
***** ** ******** **** ********* ******* ******* *********** ***í****, ** *** ******* **** "*** in ***** ***** ***** ************ *******" in ****** **** *** ******, **** the ******* **** ****** ****** ***** as ** ******* *********.
***********, *** ************ ******** **** *** Mexico **** ************** **** **** **** the ******* ********* ********** *** ******* ***** *******-********* **.******* *********(********, *****), *** ******* ****** ** December ****, ***** ****** ****'* ***** surveillance **** *********:
**’* ** ********* *************, *****-**-***-*** ******...*** penalties *** ******* ***** ****, ****’** pretty ******...**’* *** ***** *** ****.
[**. *********] ** *******, ***…*** **** of ****** ******* ***’* ***** * good ***…**** ** *** ***** ******.
***** ** ** ********* ** ********** attribute ******-**** ************ ** **. *********'* policies ** *** **** ** ******** of ******* ******** **** ***** ************ in ****, ***** ****** ** **** been ***** ** ******* *** ************* concerns *********** ** **** *** ****, with ***** ************** ** ********* ******** "**** *** *******" ** *** cameras ** ****** **** **** *** working.
Recent ********: ******* *** ******* ******* ** *****
******** ************ ******* ****** ********* *** would-be ********* ** ****** ****'* ****** chief ********* * ****** **** **** assassination ******* [*][*] ********** ** ********** *** ********** ******** **** ** ****** ******** **** ******** ******** ********, * ***** ** ******** **** the **** **** **** *********** *** limitations ** ****** ****'* *******:
- September ****: ***** ***** ************ **-*********, ***-******* ******* *** ***** buttons **** *** ******* ** ******* victims *** ** *** *** *******' failure ** ******** (*.*. *** ***) data ******* ** **** ********** ******.
February ****: ***** ***** ************ ******* **** ****** **** * crime ***** ***** * ***** ****'* body *** **** ********** ** ********* Mexico ****.
- January ****: ***** ***** ************ ** ******* “**** *** **** to *******” * *****-******** ****** ****** from ****** ****'* ********** *** ****** (pictured, *****).
- ****–****: ***** ******** ***** ***** *** presence ** ***** ************ ** ****** City ****** ** ********** ******* **** profiled ** ******** **** ********** ********* ********** **************** ** *****, **** *** ******** ** * murder ****** ***** ********* **** *** option ** *** * ***** ** obtain ********** ***** ********** ****** * seven-day ****** ***** ** *** ********** being ******.
*********** **** ********* ** ****** **** video ************ *********** ** **** **** a *** ** ****** *** **** put ***** ** ******* ***** ***** surveillance ** ****** ***** *** **** the ***** ********* *** *** ********** of ****** ** ******** ********.
*** ************* *********** ****** **** ******* capacity *** **** ******** ***** *** 2013–2017 ********* ** *** ****** ********* in *** ******* **** **** ** World *******, **** *** ****** ******* IPVM **** ******* *** ********* ************* from ***** ** ** ** ** days.
*** ******* ***** ** *** *******, the ******* ***** ** *** ********** a **** *************...** ****** *** ***** recordings *** ****, *** ** *** hands **in *********** ***** ***** ************ ******* *** *********. [emphasis added]
Crime ***** ****
****** ******** ** ******* ****, ****** ********* ** **** ****** on ******** *** ************* ***** ** countries **** *** **** *********** *********, with *** ******* ***** ****************** **,*** ********* ** ****.
***** **** ********* *************** **** ******** ********* *** ********* in ****** [*** *******] **** ********* substantially ***** **** *** ****** ********* unchanged ******* **** *** ****:
**** **** * ******* ***** ******** in ***** ************ ** **** *****, Mexican *********** **** ******** ***** ************ to *** ****** *** ***** ***** as * *** ** ********** **** crime *** ******** *****.
** ********* **** ********** ******* ************************** *** ************ ** **,*** *** cameras **** ****** ****’* ***** ************ systems, **. ********* ** ****** ** saying “* *** ****** **** ****** such ** ******** *** ********** *** will ** ********:”
**** ********** ********* ****, ** **** ******** *********, ****** **** ******** ********** ****** Diego ******* ********* ******* *** *** expansion ** ****** ****’* ************ ****** to ******* *************** ****** *** ********** of **** *******, ******* ******* “*********** that ******* *** ********** ** ******:”
******* ******** **** ****** *** ********** officials, **** ** *** ******* *** view **** *** ******** ** **** cameras *** ******* ****** *** ***** or ******** ***** ** ****** ****. According ** *** *************** ********* ** ********** *** *********(*****, *** *** ************ ** *******), instances ** ******** ******** ** **** Mexico **** *** *** ******** ***** of ****** ****** **** ***** **** levels:
************, ***** ***** ** **** ***** behind **. *********’* **** ********* **** homicides *** **********, ***** **** ********* are ********* **** **.*% **** * 2018 ****, ****** ****’* ******** **** remains ** **.*% **** **** *** 30.0% **** ****, *** **** **** during ***** ***** **** *,*** ********* were ******** ** *** **** ***.* *******:
**** ********** ** *** ************* ***********. **** ****(********, *****), * ***** ******* ********** expert ***** ******** ******** "*** ***** ********** ****** ** **** in ****** ******: * ********** ***** Analysis.," **** **** **** ******* ***** do *** ******* ***** *** **** technological ***** **** ** ** ******** with ********* ****** *** ********:
Research *** ************ ***** **** ***** ************ ******* ***’* **** **** ** * *****-***** *******. However, video surveillance cameras can generate crime reductions when deployed alongside other evidence-based practices. Active camera monitoring practices, whereby police actively watch cameras and respond to incidents of concern in real-time, can also increase the effect of video surveillance systems. The ******** *** ******** ******* *** *** ** ************ ******* *** **** ********* **** *** **** ******** ** *** ******* **********. [emphasis added]
*********, ******* **'* ******** ******** **** IPVM **** ***** ***** ** ** doubt **** ***** ************ ******* *** be "* **** ********* ********** ************ in ******** ******** **********," ********** ****** not ** ****** ** * ***** bullet:
***********, ***** ** * ********** **** the ***** ************ ******* ** *** work ******* ********* *** ****** ** insecurity ******** ** ****...*** ******* ** and ** ********** *** *** ***** to **** ** ***** *** ****** of ***********...****** *** ******* ** ****** magical ****** ***** ** ** ****** irresponsible...Technology ***** **** *** ********* ********* ** ****** ** ******* *** ************ ** ***********, especially in a city like Mexico City. [emphasis added]
****** ******** ***** ***** ** ****** years *** ** * ****** ** video ************ ********* **** ***** **** the *******, ** *** ************ ******* noted ** **:
*** ***** ****** ****** ******* ** install ******* [** ******* *************]. ****** have **** ******** **** **** ***** been ******** ******.
**********
****** **** ****** * **** ******* which ** ******* *** ******* ************ between ***** ************ *** ******* *****, including *********.
*********** *** ************* ** ****** *** not *********** *** ********** *** ******** of *** *********, *** **** **** Mexico's *** ***** ********** ****** ** not ******* *** ********* *** ***** by *********** **** **** ******* ****** to **** *****.
**** ****, ****** ************* ******** ** market "*****" ****** ** "****" ******? Are ****** "****" **, ******* ***** spending ** ******** *** ************ *******, the ***** *** ****** **** ***** the ****? ***** **** ***** ** better **** ** *******, *********, *** roads?
**, *****.
** ********* ***** ***************, ***** *** agree **** *** ************* ***** ** better ** ***** ** *** "***** city" ***** *** ** ***** ****** points? ** **** ** ** ********** research **** **** ****, * ******* that ****** **** *** **** *** cameras ** ***** ******** ******** *** monitor ************* *********** **** ** ********. And ** ****** *** ******* *** great *** ****-**** ******* **********, ***** many ***** ******.
***** **** ** **** *** ****** capitol **** *** ****** **** *** the ****** **** ** *** ******* on * *** ****** *****. ********* the ****** **** *** *** *** at *** ********* ********* ** *** many **** *******.
**** ** ********* ** *** ********** look ****.
****** ** * **** ********* *****. The ******* **** *** (***** ** responsible *** *** ****'* ***** ** homicides) ** *** ********* **** **** be ****** **** *** *** ********, least ** *** *******. *** ***** argue **** * ******* ***** ***** have **** ****** ***** ** ******* reduction *** *** ******** ** ****, although **** * ****** **** *** ten ***** *** ******* **** ** do ***** ***** ****, **'* **** to ****** **** *** **** ** a ****.
*** ***** ** *** ******* ****** come ** ********** ** ********. ***** any ***** ***** **** ****** *** you **** *** **** ***** ***** railroad ********'* ****** *** ***** *** completely ***********. ** ******* *** ********* enough ** ***** **** *** ********** from ******** **** ****** *******, **** will **** ** *********** ******* ****** a ******.
******, * *** ***** ****** ******** ******** *********** ** ***** ******** but * *** *** ***** ** the ******** *****.
****'* ** *******. *** *** *** this *** **** ******; ***** ** approaching * **** ********, ********* ******* devices *** ****** *** ***** *** up. *****.
(***** ****** ***** ** **:**)
****** *** *******. ****'* ******** ***** and ********* **** *'** ***** **** before ******** ** *** *****, *** even ** ****** ** ********** ** Kyrgyzstan.
* **** **** ** ****** **** and **** **** ******* ***** ****. Everyone ** ***** **** ******* ** themselves **** *** **** ** ***** crime. *******, ****'* ****** **** **** with *** ***** ************ ************. **** prevents ***** ** * *********** ** the **** ** ************ *** *** likelihood *** **** *** ****** & prosecuted.
**** ** **** * **** ** a **** *******. * ***'* **** if ** **** ** **********, *** my ********** ** **** *** **** that ** ** ***** *** ***** to ** ******. **** ******* **** time **** ****** ** ** ****.
******** ** ***** **** ******* ** themselves **** *** **** ** ***** crime.
**** ******** ***** ** * *********** of *** **** ** ************ *** the ********** *** **** *** ****** & **********.
****** ************* ****** ******* ** **** of "**** ****" *********?
**-*** ** ******* **** *** ******* should ** ****** ***, *** ******'* it ** ****** ** ************* *** politicians ***** ** *** "***** ****" line?
"****" **** ** "*****" **** ** just ********* ***** ** ** *******. Cameras ** ***** ***** ***'* **** a **** ***** ** ****, **** like * ****** *** * *** doesn't ***** * *****. ********** ******* are **** ** *** ********, *** only * ****. ** ***** ******, process, ******* *** **** ***** ** make * **** ******** ********* **** what ** ********* **.
* ***** "**** ****" ** ***** as ******** * ********* **** ** "Fever ******". ******* ** **** ****'** advertised ***.
***** *** ** *** ***** ****** that **** ***** **. *******, ******* reduction, *** ********, ********* *****, ********* outreach, *** ** ***** *** ********* proven ** ** ******** ***** ********************* **** *** ************.*********** *** *** ** *** ****** to ***** ** **********.
** ***** **** **** ******* *** more ****** **** *** ******* ***** cam
`**** ****, ****** ************* ******** ** market "*****" ****** ** "****" ******? Are ****** "****" **, ******* ***** spending ** ******** *** ************ *******, the ***** *** ****** **** ***** the ****? ***** **** ***** ** better **** ** *******, *********, *** roads?`
+++++
******: *** **** *** **** ******* to ******* *** ********* ***** **** CUNY ********* ********* **. **** ****, a ***** ******* ********** ******:
**** ********** ** *** ************* ***********. **** ****(********, *****), * ***** ******* ********** expert ***** ******** ******** "*** ***** ********** ****** ** **** in ****** ******: * ********** ***** Analysis.," **** **** **** ******* ***** do *** ******* ***** *** **** technological ***** **** ** ** ******** with ********* ****** *** ********:
Research *** ************ ***** **** ***** ************ ******* ***’* **** **** ** * *****-***** *******. However, video surveillance cameras can generate crime reductions when deployed alongside other evidence-based practices. Active camera monitoring practices, whereby police actively watch cameras and respond to incidents of concern in real-time, can also increase the effect of video surveillance systems. The ******** *** ******** ******* *** *** ** ************ ******* *** **** ********* **** *** **** ******** ** *** ******* **********. [emphasis added]
*** ** *** **** ******* ****** city ***** **** ****'* ********** ******** is *** **** ** ****-**** ******** situation ********* (*.*.* ***** *********).
*** *** ***** ******* *** ***** to ** ****** ** ** ****** advanced ***** ********* ** ***** ** be ******** ******.
*** **** ***** ****** ********* *** been ******** ** *** *** ******* city ** ******, ****. **** ***** it **** ****:
**ó*, ****** ******* ********* ** ******* Safety | *********
** ** **** ***** *** ****** data, *** ** ** * ******.
** ***** ** **** ******** **** to ******** ** ******** ** ************ infrastructure ******* * ********** *** ********** the **** ** ****-**** ** ******* from ** **********. **** ** *** point ****** **,***-**,*** ****** ** ****** city ** ** *** ** ********?
**** ** *** ***** ****** **,***-**,*** camera ** ****** **** ** ** one ** ********?
******* * ***** ** **** **** detail ***** **** ** * ******** post, *** *** ******* ** ****** City **** **** *** ***** *******:
*** *** ******* ** ** ********* in ****** ****'************ ******** ** ********* ** *** ******* capital's ** ******** ***** ************ ****** as **** ** * $**.* ******* MXN ($*.* ******* ***) ****** *** by*** ************ *** ******* ************ *é**** S.A. ** *.*., ********* *** ****** *é**** ******.
***** **** *** *******, *** **** includes *** ***** *******, ** ***** devices, *** ** ************ *****.
***** ***** *** *** ****** *** brand ** *** ******* ** ** installed ** *** ****. *** ************ said **** *** *** *** ***** to ******* ******* ******* ***** *** cameras' ************ ** * **** ***** with ****.
*** ************'* ****** ******** ******* ********, Axis, *****, *** *********, ********* ** its ********.
***** *******! *** "******* **** ****** crime" **** ** ****** ******** ** with * ********** ** "***?"
***** ** **** **********, *** ***** in ******** *********. **** ** ***** to ********** ... *** **** ***** reduction *** ********** ** ********? ***** criminal ** *** ****** ******* ** be ******** ***** * **** ******* and *** **** ***** ******. ***** are ********** **** ********* *** ***** fear * ******. * ***'* *******, however **** ***** ********* **** **** call ** * *** *** ** out *** *** * *** ;). They **** **** ***** **** ** do *** ***** ** *** *** crime **** *******. ** **** ** will ** ********* ***** ** ********* places.
** *** ********, ******* **** * valuable **** ** ** ************* ******* the ***** *** ******* ******** ** there ** ** ********* *****, * suppose, ****** ********* *** ****** *** locked ** ** ************* ** **** the ***** ********.
***'* *** ** *****. * ********* cameras ** * ***** ***** *** have **** ** ** ******** ********, and ** **** ********* ****** ********* (after *** *****). * ***** *** "sales *****" *** ******* ****** ** a *** **** **** "******* ****** Crime". * **** *** ***** **** cameras *** ******** **** ** *** value ** ******** *** ******* ***** which ** ********** ******** **** *******.
***** **** ** **** *** ****** capitol **** *** ****** **** *** the ****** **** ** *** ******* on * *** ****** *****. ********* the ****** **** *** *** *** at *** ********* ********* ** *** many **** *******.
**** * ***** ***
***