ROME- The Eternal City is following in the footsteps of another of the world’s best known cities as Mayor Ignazio Marino announces the installation of CCTV cameras within the coming month.

 Inspired by London, the “most watched city in the world,” Rome will soon have surveillance cameras installed in many public places in an attempt to combat the city’s fierce drug and anti-social behaviour problems. 

 At the end of June, Mayor Marino expressed his anger at the lack of control-measures in place in San Lorenzo and Pigneto, where the “electronic eyes” are set to be installed, and where discontent amongst residents continues to rise.

 The last anti-drug blitz in Pigneto was carried out between 2-3 of July, with Police and Carabinieri making 21 arrests and seizing over 1kg of drugs. Marino was quick to explain that the installation of cameras did not mean they were lowering the levels of surveillance in the area, but explained that “the community want a zero-tolerance policy towards the use and sale of drugs in the area.”

 Officials say that the new cameras are to be “connected up with the existing ones, which are currently only linked to local Roma Capitale Police service, and to be linked with other local authorities and law enforcement agencies, and will cover all other areas to deter drug use and other anti-social behaviour.”

 However, this is not the first and will surely not be the last time surveillance cameras are employed to keep an eye out for trouble in the capital. “There are also plans to install cameras in Eur, specifically to prevent urban vandalism and prostitution,” explains Andrea Santoro, President of the IX municipality.

 In Summer 2012, Alemanno administration ordered a highly advanced surveillance camera system to be installed in Piazza Trilussa, Trastevere. The cameras also contained an “electronic nose” to sniff out drug and alcohol use.