2 weeks Ago By CBC
The Prince Albert Police Service is asking for the public's help reducing crime. It hopes to do this by having residents voluntarily register their outward-facing security cameras with police. The program is called the Safe Neighbourhood Camera Registry.
It's a secure web system that allows residents and businesses to register that they have security cameras and would be willing to share imagery should a crime happen in view of the camera. Prince Albert police say they believe this will give them quicker access to potential evidence. Patrick Nogier, Prince Albert's chief of police, told CBC the service started to look into camera registration after receiving feedback from multiple community representatives that police weren't responding quickly enough to certain types of calls, such as a report of someone loitering in a back alley.
Nogier said the community has indicated that it wants to play a role in reducing crime. In response, police started to look for ways they could be more efficient. "A lot of times when we do have a serious crime that takes place, our officers are tied up going door to door trying to canvas the areas and determine whether there's any outward-facing security cameras that can help us identify people that were involved in a crime," said Nogier.
He said police learned quickly that many residents have security cameras. The police service and the city decided to team up with the company Forrest Green and its Safe Neighbourhood Camera Registry. Nogier said the police service already has experience with Forrest Green and its platform that allows officers to do criminal record checks.
Patrick Nogier, chief of the Prince Albert Police Service, says the community has indicated that it wants to play a role in reducing crime. (CBC) It's been a few days since registry opened and Nogier said people are slowly starting to use it. In the meantime, the police chief has been using his platform at community and chamber events to encourage residents to register, and hopes community associations and groups will do the same.
Nogier acknowledges that it's common for people to be concerned about sharing personal information with police. He said, however, that there is a lot of misinformation around this kind of initiative. "People actually think we want access to their systems to see what's going on.
But in essence, this is just a registry," said Nogier. "It allows us to take a look at a geographic area. And if people have been contributing, providing us with their name, what type of camera system they have, where it's pointed — very quickly investigators can go and look and determine whether or not there's something there that can help us progress an investigation.
" Prince Albert officers cannot access a person's camera just because they've registered. They still must receive the owner's permission to see any footage. Nogier said it's important for police to work on strengthening community connections to build trust.
"I understand that there's apprehensiveness. [People] think that maybe Big Brother is watching, it's a bit of a conspiracy theory, and people are worried about giving up those sorts of things. But at the end of the day, people are making investments in security products that can severely assist law enforcement in holding people accountable for crimes.
" Nogier said property crime in particular is difficult to investigate. "A lot of times there's not a whole bunch of actual evidence that we can work from. A lot of times there's no witnesses," Nogier said, noting the advent of more technology can change that.
Prince Albert police say having a registry of outward-facing cameras will help them gather evidence of a crime much faster. (Paul Palmeter/CBC) Prince Albert is one of multiple cities across Canada asking residents to help fight residential crime using private security cameras. .
Krystal Shore, a post doctoral fellow in the department of sociology and legal studies at the University of Waterloo, told CBC then that she's not sure how the program would reduce crime and promote community safety. "Studies show again and again that simply increasing surveillance, whether at home or in communities and public spaces, does not necessarily lead to better crime prevention or crime resolution. It's not an effective deterrent.
" Shore said more effort needs to be put into like "enhancing social services or urban infrastructure like better lighting on streets" rather than expanding home or police surveillance networks. But back in Saskatchewan, Anna Dinsdale, community safety and well-being manager for the city of Prince Albert, said in a news released Thursday that the camera registry program is one of the best ways for residents to get involved in community safety. "It is a small action with significant consequences.
Help protect your property, family, and community by registering your doorbell and outdoor security cameras," Dinsdale said. Prince Albert Mayor Greg Dionne also supports the initiative, calling the camera registry a "shining example of how we can work together to make our city safer." "By participating, residents can play an active role in protecting their neighbourhoods," Dionne said in Thursday's news release.
Residents can learn more about the program and registering by contacting the Prince Albert Police Service. Folks can withdraw their consent from the program at any point..
