Using CCTVs, technology to  fight crime

TWO hundred Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras were installed for the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) leaders’ summit security operations in the National Capital District (NCD) last November at a cost of K42 million. The National’s reporter DALE LUMA looks at how this technology can enhance policing operations and crime prevention in the NCD.

FOR more than 10 months after the Apec leaders’ summit, the 200 security cameras installed in strategic locations in NCD were left unused or had remained as White Elephants.
However, police in the NCD are set to make full use of the CCTVs for crime prevention and, law and order enforcement operations.

This follows the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) between the police force and the NCD Commission (NCDC) on Oct 11 for the police to have control and use of the CCTV surveillance system.
NCD governor Powes Parkop previously commissioned and handed it over to NCD Metropolitan Supt Perou N’dranou. But the police could not use security monitoring system because the management of the building (Oakley Haus) where the CCTV control centre is located did allow police access.

Manning … security cameras to be installed near schools
Acting Police Comm David Manning said the previous arrangements on the use of the CCTVs was under the “auspicious” of the Apec summit security operations, hence the MoA.
“The MoA has enabled police to operate the control centre to monitor public security in the strategic locations where CCTVs have been installed.
“The surveillance system has the capacity to cover most of the major suburbs in the NCD known for criminal activities and petty crimes. These include Erima, Gordon, Koki, Badili and Boroko,” he added.
Police and the NCDC had started discussions on July 19 to reactivate 190 cameras.
“The cameras will help police to keep security watch on a much wider coverage, adding more bite to crime prevention patrols and, law and order enforcement, to our limited manpower.
“We are also mulling the installation of more cameras in crowded places where human movement is high. These include bus stops and shopping centres,” he added.
“Certain areas are popular for public gatherings. CCTVs will help enhance our operations to ensure law and order with our limited manpower. CCTVs can also deter criminals.
“The advantage of CCTVs is enhancing the planning of security tasks with lesser manpower. This has been the subject of many discussions and we will be looking at installing more cameras at shops and even school areas,” he added.
Manning said: “We have to consider the privacy of citizens. Thus, CCTVs will only be installed in public areas. Cameras will be installed on street poles near schools.
“Now that we have access to the CCTV control centre, policemen who were trained for Apec security will be tasked again to man the centre.
“In preparation for Apec, our men were trained to operate the controls at the centre. We also sent some of our technical staff to overseas for training and camera maintenance.
“But, going forward, we will need more personnel and will be looking at options to continue such trainings to ensure that we have adequately trained our people to operate the TV cameras.”

Parkop … more CCTVs installed can fight crime
Parkop reiterated said vision to have more CCTVs installed in as many parts of the city as possible.
“This will help us to manage and check the rise of crime by identifying and arresting suspects with swift response to emergencies. CCTVs can also help manage traffic,” he said.
“We already have CCTVs at selected traffic lights but we need coverage at Ela Beach as soon as possible and at the new Gordon Market and its surrounding.
“CCTVs can help us identify and catch suspected criminals and check violence.
“The long-range cameras can capture even petty crimes such as bag-snatching at roundabouts, markets and other hotspots,” he said, adding that the surveillance system had worked well in many cities in the world.

Fiocco … applauds NCDC-police joint fight against crime
PORT Moresby Chamber of Commerce and Industry (POMCCI) president Rio Fiocco expressed the business communities’ support for the use of the CCTV control centre for law and order enforcement.
“We believe that making Port Moresby a safer environment will not just be better for business houses but also for our employees, residents and visitors,” he added.
Fiocco said POMCCI also applauded NCDC’s initiative to work closely with the police other problems like graffiti that often occurs in the middle of the night.
“We are very glad to work closely with the governor and metropolitan superintendent to make Port Moresby a safer and better place for all.”
He said one way business houses could help was by paying for the installation of CCTVs in its neighbourhood.
“This will help police widen their public law and order monitoring. Our members can also work with other interested groups to set up neighbourhood watch schemes,” he added.
Fiocco said police and NCDC should better monitor bus stations to ensure that passengers commuted safely on PMVs (Public Motor Vehicles).

Justice Mogish … CCTVs and technology in general must be used to fight crime
National Court judge Justice Panuel Mogish had previously remarked on how CCTV and technology in general must be used to fight crime.
He said this when sentencing a 28-year-old man who raped a 19-year-old student in 2015.
Justice Mogish also urged the Government, business houses and individual property owners to install CCTVs to assist in the fight against crime.
“CCTVs and mobile phones are today vital assets that can be used to deter crime,” he stressed.
The rape was recorded on a mobile phone, posted on social media and the video clip was used to identify the accused who was jailed.
“This is the first case I have heard in which the offender’s images were posted on the internet, successfully prosecuted, convicted and sentenced.
“Capturing images on the mobile phones and making them available to the police confidential line is an effective method ordinary citizens can use in the fight against crime. Citizens can fight crime with the use of technology,” he added.

China’s hi-tech cameras watching every move

Life has gotten a lot tougher for China’s public-transport pickpockets.
A new metro line in Guangzhou, a wealthy city in the southern province of Guangdong, has been fitted with 4K CCTV cameras that enable real-time surveillance of every inch of the train in ultra-high definition.
The 22km route is thought to be the first subterranean train line in the world to be armed with the cutting-edge security system that beams live images to a control room with spectacular clarity.
– South China Morning Post

Ecuador fighting crime using Chinese technology

Ecuador says its network of security cameras has helped bring down the crime rate, according to Xinhua.
Its network of cameras has been installed across the South American nation’s 24 provinces – keeping watch on its population of 16.4 million people – using a system known as the ECU911 Integrated Security Service.
Used by the country’s police, armed forces and fire brigade, it went into operation in November 2016 and features an emergency response and monitoring system.
Service deputy director Sixto Heras said the system had helped to bring down the country’s crime rate by 24 per cent since the cameras were installed.
He added that Ecuador went from a ranking of 11th safest country in South America in 2010 to the fourth safest country in 2016.