Surveillance cameras installed downtown will start rolling this month as part of an effort to curb vandalism and littering outside popular late-night taverns.

The 12 cameras placed at three intersections are set to begin operating in about a week, said Ralph Caldwell, the city's homeland security director.

Springfield's City Council began discussing the cameras in 2004 after a melee outside a downtown bar that had a 3 a.m. liquor license. The council also had been receiving complaints from downtown residents about noise, litter and vandalism outside popular taverns.

Police will not continuously monitor the cameras but will have access to a recorder when investigating a crime near the camera's location.

"The idea is to, hopefully, use them to deter crime and slow the criminal activity down around the downtown area," Caldwell said.

Springfield isn't the first city to install cameras to curb crime.

Chicago began placing cameras mounted in bulletproof cases and bolted on poles in neighborhoods with high crime rates about two years ago.

Mayor Richard Daley and Police Superintendent Philip Cline have credited the cameras with helping to lower the city's murder toll and other crimes. The city recorded fewer that 500 murders in 2004 and 2005. The last time that happened was in 1964 and 1965.

But the American Civil Liberties Union in Illinois has expressed concern about privacy rights being violated because Chicago's system is so prevalent.

Caldwell said some people in Springfield might think the cameras are violating their rights but that's not what officials intend for the surveillance system to do.

"It's to review any incidents of vandalism downtown _ public urination, vandalism, fights," he said.