Evanston has bought new crime control cameras recently, but a new study is raising questions about the effectiveness of such devices.

The study from the University of California at Berkeley says the cameras have no effect on the frequency of most types of crime — although they do tend to move homicides and nonviolent thefts down the block.

Despite the study, reported in the San Francisco Chronicle, that city’s mayor says he still wants more cameras because they make residents feel safer.

But other city officials are holding off on adding 25 more cameras to the 68 the city already has installed until a final, more detailed report from the study is released.

Bill Smith is the editor and publisher of Evanston Now.

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