The Public Camera Registry is a voluntary program that allows residents and business owners to register the location of their existing, external-facing security cameras.
At this stage, we are building the registry before our officers will begin using the technology. It is expected that officers will use the Camera Registry by Q4 of 2022. When we have a sufficient number of registrants, the Camera Registry will provide EPS officers with the locations of security cameras in the vicinity of an incident they are investigating. If a camera is registered in the area, an email request will be sent to the registered owner of the camera with easy-to-follow instructions to upload and share the requested footage. Owners will only be contacted if an incident occurs near the registered camera’s location. This will provide a faster, more efficiently streamlined process for police to receive evidence from our citizens.
"Video evidence of a crime is extremely valuable to an investigation,” says Sergeant Blake Schols of the Member eXperience Unit. “Residential and business security cameras often record evidence that can be used to investigate, and in many cases, solve a crime. By choosing to register their home or business cameras, not only will citizens contribute to the enhanced safety of their community, but they will help reduce the time required for officers to complete an investigation by assisting in the identification of individuals involved in a crime.” As this Registry is supplemental to the investigative process, it will not replace officers’ typical door-to-door inquiries if an incident occurs in a citizen’s neighbourhood.
EPS will always follow procedure when issuing a request for any video footage that may correspond to an incident, which includes providing the investigator’s name and contact information. Additionally, when applicable, it will include pertinent police file information to ensure the camera owner understands the reason for the request, and that the information requested is strictly for the purposes of a formal police investigation.
"We want to emphasize that this is not a surveillance system, so EPS will not have direct access to the cameras,” adds Schols. “Officers will only have access to video footage uploaded in response to a request and since it is completely voluntary, citizens can opt out at any time.”
Citizens are encouraged to register their home or business cameras here and learn more at edmontonpolice.ca/cameraregistry.