New York police launch high-tech surveillance system

NEW YORK (AFP) - New York police on Wednesday launched what officials say is a revolutionary camera surveillance system that will simultaneously scan the streets and call up data on suspects.

The Domain Awareness System, developed with Microsoft, "is an innovative tool that has the potential to revolutionise law enforcement, intelligence and public safety operations," the mayor's office said.

Unlike simpler camera surveillance networks, the new system instantly gives officers massive amounts of information about what they are monitoring.

It "aggregates and analyses existing public safety data streams in real time, providing NYPD investigators and analysts with a comprehensive view of potential threats and criminal activity," the office said.