Not only are they virtually useless at SOLVING crimes as answered by @maadhu , they have also been proven not to DETER crime:

- - - quote from AP London via www.securityinfowatch.com - - -
"For the Home Office-funded study, academics from the University of Leicester studied 14 closed-circuit TV systems in a variety of settings, including town centers, parking lots, hospitals and residential areas. Only the parking lot scheme was shown to cause a fall in crime. "
- - - end quote - - -
http://www.securityinfowatch.com/CCTV+%2526+Surveillance/british-study-says-cctv-cameras-dont-deter-crime

- - - quote from Telegraph.co.uk - - -
"Yet there is plenty of evidence that people are not safer because of the presence of CCTV: studies have argued convincingly that money is better invested in improved street lighting and more uniformed police patrols."
- - - end quote - - -
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/telegraph-view/6083476/CCTV-cameras-If-they-do-not-stop-crime-or-catch-criminals-what-are-they-for.html

- - - quote from Telegraph.co.uk - - -
"The review of a series of CCTV studies revealed cameras that flood town centres and housing estates do not have a significant impact on crime."
- - - end quote - - -
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/lawandorder/5344262/CCTV-only-effective-at-cutting-car-crime.html

Here a few interesting links to compliment this topic. It is sad and ironic that 1984's Big Brother has come to pass right outside George Orwell's former home:
- - - quote from Technovelgy.com - - -
"Within 200 yards of George Orwell's flat 27B overlooking Canonbury Square in Islington, North London, there are thirty-two CCTV (closed circuit television) cameras. "
- - - end quote - - -
http://www.technovelgy.com/ct/Science-Fiction-News.asp?NewsNum=1005

- - - quote from ThisIsLondon.co.uk - - -
"According to the latest studies, Britain has a staggering 4.2million CCTV cameras - one for every 14 people in the country - and 20 per cent of cameras globally. It has been calculated that each person is caught on camera an average of 300 times daily."
- - - end quote - - -
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-23391081-details/George+Orwell,+Big+Brother+is+watching+your+house/article.do
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