That’s an interesting question for Honolulu in light of the temporary surveillance cameras installed during APEC. (Most have supposedly been removed and repurposed as traffic-monitoring cams, but some security cameras predated APEC and remain in use.)

Atlantic Cities explores the issue in depth today. You should read the whole article, so we won’t poach too much. Here’s a taste:

Yet the question of effectiveness has haunted governments, police officials and academic researchers for decades. It should also haunt taxpayers, because camera surveillance doesn’t come cheap. London’s 10,000 camera system, for example, has cost more than $320 million to set up and maintain.

The answer, thus far, has been decidedly mixed. …