As of July 2nd, citizens can expect to see new cameras installed throughout the City with marked EPS signage. The project will utilize CCTV in a number of locations across the city that have been identified as large gathering sites or locations where crime has frequently occurred. The cameras will not be deployed within residential neighborhoods and are owned and operated solely by the EPS.
“CCTV can be a very valuable tool when it comes to identifying suspects in a crime, protecting your property or business, and ensuring public safety,” says Acting Inspector Kelly Rosnau with the Operations & Intelligence Command Centre. “Major cities across the world utilize this kind of technology to respond to major events and situations in real-time, making their policing strategies and investigations more effective.”
Example of CCTV camera in Old Strathcona
Example of visible signage accompanying cameras
“The CCTV cameras only capture information relevant to law enforcement investigations and video is only available to officers for a 24-hour period,” says Rosnau. “That means that unless the video is pulled for a specific investigation within that timeframe, it wouldn’t be backed up and kept on the system – it would be lost.”
The CCTV cameras will only be accessible by staff within the EPS’ Operational Intelligence Command Centre (OICC) during major events or for requests made by police officers investigating a crime in an area that is monitored by CCTV.
It’s imperative for law enforcement to stay innovative and on top of emerging technologies as crime continues to occur. For example, in the last few years, between 2017 and 2019, theft over $5,000 has risen 59 per cent, theft from vehicles has risen 15 per cent and assault has risen almost eight per cent.
“This technology will help us continue to maintain and ensure the safety of our citizens,” says Rosnau.
A Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) was submitted to the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner (OIPC) of Alberta in 2019 to outline the pilot project and ensure all privacy considerations are addressed through legislation.