Beijing police have installed a network of 3,000 security cameras on streets in Xicheng district, as part of a major crackdown on street crime in the capital, the Global Times confirmed with Xicheng police authorities yesterday.
According to the Xicheng district branch of the Municipal Public Security Bureau (PSB), the newly installed cameras will be monitored continuously by 20 police officers.
An official from Xicheng PSB, who requested anonymity, said yesterday that the monitoring center is in the duty command center, with five large screens displaying real-time videos.
"If police want to check a location, they can easily look at any time, so the cameras will be efficient in reducing street crime," he said.
The cameras will also enable police to respond rapidly to accidents or follow suspects more easily.
Xicheng district aims to reduce street crime, such as theft, robbery and swindling, by 11 percent this year.
The rise of street crime in the capital in recent years is the main reason for the increase in surveillance.
A recent surge in the number of street robberies, especially in the CBD, has worried Beijing residents, some of whom posted their experiences on the Internet to call attention from the police.
The public have voiced concerns over safety in city, particularly at subway stations. One Web user named Sabrinameng posted that a man robbed her with a knife near Dawang Lu Station, in Chaoyang district.
Another resident surnamed Mao told the Global Times that he had a similar experience last month, but he ran away after losing the four men he said were following him.
"I once saw a young girl stopped by three men near the subway. I hope our experiences will alert police to the situation," he said.
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