The initiative, which dates back to 2005, involves an extensive network of security cameras, licence-plate readers and weapon-detectors which work together to spot threats and deter terrorist surveillance.

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The heavy police presence discourages criminals from operating in plain sight, and a network of public security cameras provides an additional deterrent.

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The NYPD also maintains a "Ring of Steel, " a network of 4, 000 sophisticated security cameras that feed information into a central monitoring system to detect questionable or unlawful activity.

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Security in the capital, protected by a network of close circuit cameras and tens of thousands of police officers and private security guards, is not likely to deteriorate any time soon.

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Those costs, according to Cohen, break down to half a million dollars just for residential protection and surveillance that would include 24-hour security monitoring with a constantly streaming network of cameras.

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The planned system, called the Lower Manhattan Security Initiative, will establish a network of thousands of surveillance cameras to monitor and track vehicles and pedestrians south of Canal Street.

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