Williams Lake Adding Cameras Downtown

Saturday, April 04, 2009 04:19 AM

Williams Lake, B.C.- New closed-circuit television (CCTV) monitoring technology trained on high-crime areas will be put to use in Williams Lake. This community is one of four approved for the camera program that's aimed at adopting the CCTV systems.

"Vancouver, Surrey, Kelowna and Williams Lake each presented strong cases for how and where CCTV can help to significantly reduce violent and nuisance crimes - both in high-crime locations and in special-event
situations," says Provincial Solicitor General John van Dongen. "We're providing this funding because we believe people have the right to feel safe wherever they go in these cities."

The four programs are:

* Williams Lake - $50,000 toward a fixed system in the downtown core.

* Vancouver - $400,000 toward a re-deployable CCTV unit for special events and emergencies.
* Surrey - $330,000 to fully fund a fixed CCTV system that will monitor the Scott Road SkyTrain station and its commuter parking facility.
* Kelowna - $220,000 toward a multi-faceted proposal to upgrade the existing, fixed CCTV system at Queensway bus loop, buy a re-deployable unit for special events, and audit the city's existing cameras.

In October 2008, van Dongen and Attorney General Wally Oppal announced a pilot program to engage local governments and law-enforcement agencies in identifying high-crime locations for CCTV deployment. The
pilot also involved assessing technologies and identifying how CCTV would complement existing public safety measures. At the time, Kelowna used a limited number of closed-circuit systems, and Vancouver and
Surrey were exploring options.

"CCTV footage can help police determine what has occurred when they are called to investigate an incident and may even deter some crimes, so people can go about their lives peacefully," said Oppal.

In assessing proposals, government solicited input from the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner to ensure CCTV expansion would balance existing privacy guidelines with the broader interest in
ensuring safety in public areas.

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Posted on Saturday, April 04, 2009 04:19 AM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: giterdun on April 4 2009 8:14 AM

What about downtown P.G.? Did our city apply for this program?

Posted by: gus on April 4 2009 8:54 AM

from the article:

"pilot program to engage local governments and law-enforcement agencies in identifying high-crime locations for CCTV deployment"

If we applied, the good news is that Williams Lake has a high crime area and we do not.

In case people are scratching their heads because they know that PG is mentioned as having such an area by Mcleans, the magazine did not include small towns such as Williams Lake in the Survey.

The other 3 already had cameras and met the second component of the "pilot" projects.

Posted by: DPJ on April 4 2009 9:37 AM

Maby our downtown is too safe for cameras...........

Posted by: Palopu on April 4 2009 10:24 AM

Cameras may be good for after the fact crimes, however even that is debatable.

I havent heard of very many if any instances where someone was charged and convicted of a crime on the basis of street cameras. Cameras in stores and banks may be effective, but its doubtful that street surveillance makes any difference.

I suggest that we have our highly paid police do a little more beat walking, not only during the day when the sun is shining but at night. If the police spent more time in high crime areas, there would be less crime in those areas.

Any fool with half a brain and a bag of popcorn would know not to hang around and commit a crime in front of a camera. This is just a cheap way for the Government to pretend that they are battling crime.

Crimes are being committed on a regular basis in the downtown area, however it seems little or nothing is being done. We need to enforce the laws that are on the books, and sentence those that are convicted accordingly.

Whats the chance of that happening?????

Posted by: thereasonableman on April 6 2009 5:51 PM

Good, they will be able to see what brand of liquor the downtown rummies are drinking, and get it all on tape.