Chicago enhancing safety for rail passengers

Mayor Rahm Emanuel and the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) President, Forrest Claypool has announced the completion of the installation of security cameras on more than 800 rail cars to enhance safety for passengers and assist in crime-reduction efforts. The expansion of cameras coincides with a 26 percent decrease in serious crimes in the first three months of 2014 across the transit system, compared with the same period a year ago.

“The safety of our residents is a top priority, and we are committed to creating a world-class public transportation system that provides a comfortable, secure experience for all passengers,” said Mayor Emanuel. “By expanding numbers of cameras in public transit, we’re making it even clearer to criminals that if you commit a crime in any station, on any vehicle, and at any time of the day or night, you’ll be identified, you’ll be caught, and you’ll be punished.”

Between January and March 2014, the number of crimes declined across a number of categories. Thefts, which had been on the rise in recent years as more customers own personal electronic devices such as smartphones and tablets, have declined 23 percent overall, while robbery decreased by 38 percent on average for all CTA transit. Aggravated battery decreased by 44 percent on average, while crimes on rail platforms decreased 31 percent and fell 22 percent on trains.

The decline in crimes coincides with the significant expansion of security cameras on the Chicago Transit Authority under the leadership of Mayor Emanuel. Since late 2011, the CTA has doubled its rail station camera network to more than 3,600 cameras and last year began a US$13.9 million programme to install more than 3,300 360-degree cameras on 834 rail cars. The state-of-the-art cameras can record and store high-resolution images from all angles, increasing the ability to identify criminal suspects. Similar cameras are installed on the newest generation of rail cars currently being added to the rail fleet, and all CTA buses have multiple security cameras as well, with the full complement of cameras totalling more than 23,000.

“By installing a camera in every train, we have been able to lower crime and increase security for customers,” said President Claypool. “More cameras on the CTA have put criminals on notice and have led to the arrest of individuals involved in at least 97 cases so far this year. We’re able to more effectively fight crime by identifying suspects more easily and prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law.”