Cameras ready to predict crimes.

SMART cameras could soon predict crime, according to scientists.

They believe CCTV street cameras will be able to detect when a crime is going to happen through body language.

The technology called "machine vision" is based on the ability of sophisticated computers to see and analyse human behaviour.

Scientists from across the world are discussing the concept at the British Machine Vision Conference in Cardiff this week.

Delegates will be told cameras have been developed which can identify a single person standing still in a crowd for 10 minutes or so.

Such "furtive" behaviour is associated with the run-up to crimes such as mugging, and attempted suicides.

Dr Paul Rosin, of Cardiff University's computer science department, said yesterday: "There was a study in collaboration with London Underground that monitored crowding levels on platforms.

"They found they could identify individual people who were more likely to jump in front of a train, attack someone or vandalise something by how long they stayed stationary.

"The normal behaviour was that people waited for a train, moved around a bit, got on a train then left.

"But when people stay still for more than 10 minutes it is definitely abnormal behaviour and could indicate several possible things such as committing suicide or criminal activity.

"Surveillance systems like these could be in action within five years."