Lower Manhattan Security Initiative
Encyclopedia
The Lower Manhattan Security Initiative is an initiative to increase surveillance efforts in Lower Manhattan
, New York City
, New York
, United States
. The plan has been compared to London
, England
's ring of steel.
The New York City Police Department
and private companies intend to install over 3,000 new security cameras in Lower Manhattan, as well as 100 automatic number plate recognition
devices which are intended to scan plates and compare the numbers with information in a database. Additionally, the activities the cameras are programmed to pick up on include the delivery of packages. Other features of the system include mobile roadblocks, which could swivel into the streets and block traffic, and radiation detectors.
According to police spokesman Paul J. Browne, the footage from the cameras would be monitored from a center staffed by police officers and private employees.
Carrying out the plan to its full extent is estimated to end up costing around $US
90 million (excluding the cost of radiation detectors), with the Department of Homeland Security paying for 10 million of this, and the city government covering 15 million. As of July 9, 2007, over 100 cameras are already in place.
In 2009 an extension to Midtown was announced.
Lower Manhattan
Lower Manhattan is the southernmost part of the island of Manhattan, the main island and center of business and government of the City of New York...
, New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The plan has been compared to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
's ring of steel.
The New York City Police Department
New York City Police Department
The New York City Police Department , established in 1845, is currently the largest municipal police force in the United States, with primary responsibilities in law enforcement and investigation within the five boroughs of New York City...
and private companies intend to install over 3,000 new security cameras in Lower Manhattan, as well as 100 automatic number plate recognition
Automatic number plate recognition
Automatic number plate recognition is a mass surveillance method that uses optical character recognition on images to read the license plates on vehicles. They can use existing closed-circuit television or road-rule enforcement cameras, or ones specifically designed for the task...
devices which are intended to scan plates and compare the numbers with information in a database. Additionally, the activities the cameras are programmed to pick up on include the delivery of packages. Other features of the system include mobile roadblocks, which could swivel into the streets and block traffic, and radiation detectors.
According to police spokesman Paul J. Browne, the footage from the cameras would be monitored from a center staffed by police officers and private employees.
Carrying out the plan to its full extent is estimated to end up costing around $US
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
90 million (excluding the cost of radiation detectors), with the Department of Homeland Security paying for 10 million of this, and the city government covering 15 million. As of July 9, 2007, over 100 cameras are already in place.
In 2009 an extension to Midtown was announced.