Photo courtesy WMATA

Exterior surveillance cameras have been installed at 12 high-crime Metro stations, WMATA announced this morning. Most of the cameras are at stations inside the District of Columbia, with a few in Fairfax County; those two jurisdictions paid for them to be installed. Stations with exterior cameras now include: Rhode Island Avenue-Brentwood, Congress Heights, Deanwood, Minnesota Avenue, Fort Totten, Takoma, Brookland-CUA, Columbia Heights, Georgia Avenue-Petworth, Tenleytown-AU, Vienna/Fairfax-GMU and Franconia-Springfield.

The idea behind the new surveillance equipment is the same rationale as any other crime camera initiative the District has seen over the last few years: officials hope the cameras will deter crime, and also assist in police investigations.

“Riders want to feel safe when they’re using Metro,” said Metro Board Chairman Jim Graham in a statement. “Cameras tend to deter crime and we expect them to add to the security measures Metro already uses.”

Of course, whether such cameras actually help at all is up for debate.