Toronto security camera project coming to an end

Toronto police will wrap up a $2-million experiment with surveillance cameras on New Year's Eve .

The pilot program began in the spring by putting cameras in high-risk neighbourhoods. 

The idea was to give police better investigative tools while at the same time helping to deter crime. 

Police say the use of the cameras follows information and privacy commissioner guidelines, which require that camera tapes be erased within 72 hours if not needed for a criminal investigation.

Police spokesman Mark Pugash says, anecdotally, the cameras have been successful.

"There was a CCTV [closed circuit television] camera in the area of a homicide where it was unlikely there would be a witnesses," said Pugash. "Forty-seven hours after we released the footage, a suspect surrendered." 

But the security cameras will not replace investigative work by police.

No arrests in shooting death

When 18-year-old William Junior Appiah was shot in broad daylight in September, a police surveillance camera caught the scene as three young men walked single file through a basketball court towards him.

"We have photographs of three people we believe are responsible for [the homicide] approaching the scene and leaving the scene," said homicide detective Gary Grinton.

The video was distributed through the media and posted on YouTube. But months later there have been no arrests. 

Pugash said in other cases, like the shooting of North York teen Abdikarim Abdikarim and the wounding of his friends, the cameras led to quick arrests.

Pugash called it "rare" to see a shooting on video, "to actually see somebody pulling out a gun and firing."

Early in 2009, an evaluation of the project will go before the Police Services Board and the province. After that, a decision will be made on whether to continue the security camera project.