The role of closed circuit television systems (CCTV) in fighting crime across Western Australia is facing a major overhaul, with the State Government today releasing its draft CCTV strategy for public comment.
Police Minister Liza Harvey said the draft strategy aimed to deliver the vision and framework for a safer and more secure WA and signalled the start of a comprehensive plan to fulfil the Liberal National Government's election commitment to pioneer an integrated State CCTV network and to fund additional cameras in crime hotspots.
Mrs Harvey said the strategy outlined how the State Government, local government and the private sector could join together to achieve this through effective use of integrated CCTV technology.
"CCTV makes a significant contribution in terms of both preventing and solving crime. However, factors such as poor quality, incorrect formatting or lack of accessibility have hampered police efforts to use it effectively," she said.
"The aim of the strategy is to deliver a more robust and useful CCTV network in this State that enhances community safety and security.
"The strategy outlines the areas where we need to concentrate our efforts in the coming years, including redesigning the State CCTV Register, running a feasibility study, piloting the connected CCTV solution and establishing an infrastructure fund."
The four elements of the strategy are:
refreshing the existing State CCTV Register (currently called Blue Iris) to provide better functionality and operability for those CCTV owners who want to voluntarily provide information about CCTV cameras facing public areas
providing criteria and guidelines and improving information available for public and private owners of CCTV systems to ensure systems are fit-for-purpose
providing direct connection between owners of CCTV cameras facing public spaces to enable WA Police to increase responsiveness to critical incidents
using mobile footage and testing a mobile phone video-sharing solution so that WA is not limited to traditional CCTV infrastructure as smart phones and tablets act as CCTV cameras.
The Minister said a number of laws governed how CCTV could be used in WA and the privacy of the community had been a strong consideration in the development of the strategy.
Fact File
The draft strategy is available at http://www.police.wa.gov.au
Public comments to submitted to CCTV_feedback@police.wa.gov.au by June 26, 2015
In 2011, a WA Auditor-General's report concluded the potential existed for greater benefits through better sharing and more strategic use of CCTV information by the WA Police and local governments
Minister's office - 6552 5900
