Do Flock Cameras Actually Work?

New research by Ian Adams and Scott Mourtgos on the effectiveness of Automatic License Plate Readers (ALPRs) in reducing crime, particularly motor vehicle theft. The study aims to contribute to the ongoing debate about the technology's safety benefits versus potential privacy concerns.

1. Concerns Over ALPR Misuse: There has been significant backlash against ALPRs following various reports of police officers misusing the technology for personal reasons, revealing concerns about privacy and abuse of power.

2. Debate on Public Safety and Costs: Policymakers are debating whether the benefits in public safety provided by ALPRs justify their costs, both financial and in terms of privacy. Existing arguments are predominantly anecdotal, with both supporters and critics sharing stories rather than empirical evidence.

3. Study Findings:

The researchers conducted what they believe is the first rigorous study of ALPRs. Their findings suggest that ALPRs are linked to an 11% reduction in motor vehicle theft.

Their study analyzed the crime data from 216 law enforcement agencies before and after the deployment of ALPRs and compared it to 1,800 other agencies that did not use ALPRs.

Results indicate that in the year following the installation of ALPRs, logged vehicle thefts were significantly lower in the agencies that used them.

4. Mixed Results on Recovery Rates:

While the overall rate of vehicle recovery did not improve significantly, recovered vehicles were found approximately six hours faster, which can be seen as a positive impact of the technology.

Potential reasons for the slower overall recovery rate include the nature of how stolen vehicles are typically found and the limitations of the system.

5. Call for Regulations: The authors argue for the need for regulations regarding the use of ALPRs rather than outright bans. They suggest that audits of the technology's use should be mandatory to prevent misuse.

6. Need for External Audits: Current auditing practices are mainly internally driven, which may result in conflicts of interest. There are calls for an external auditing system, akin to those used for FBI databases, which would hold police departments accountable for how ALPR data is handled.

7. Actionable Recommendations:

Establish regular and mandatory audits of ALPR usage.

Implement limits on data retention and specify rules governing who can access the data and under what conditions.

Engage in ongoing community discussions on the balance between the benefits of crime reduction and the costs to privacy.

The research conducted by Adams and Mourtgos offers valuable insights into the impact of ALPRs on crime rates, specifically motor vehicle theft. While it provides evidence of their effectiveness, it highlights the need for careful consideration of the privacy implications and regulation of ALPR systems. The findings serve as a starting point for deeper discussions on how to best employ ALPR technology while safeguarding civil liberties.

https://www.city-journal.org/article/flock-cameras-automatic-license-plate-readers