That sounds like the kind of thing that no public agency has the budget for. Even at relatively low resolution, X kb/s * Y cameras * 60 * 60 * 24 adds up to a w

That sounds like the kind of thing that no public agency has the budget for. Even at relatively low resolution, X kb/s * Y cameras * 60 * 60 * 24 adds up to a whole lot of data accumulating every day. Why store all of that data forever when it's vastly unlikely to ever be used after the first 30 days. Even 30 days is probably generous. How often are police not going to have any idea that a crime was committed in the general vicinity of a camera for an entire month, much less two or three or more?