MANITOULIN—With the benefits of solving serious crimes and keeping local residents safe, the Manitoulin detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) will soon be promoting and encouraging the support of local residents who have safety protection cameras on their homes, businesses and commercial buildings to consider taking part in the CAMSafe program.
“I just wanted to bring to everyone’s attention this new program that has been developed. I realize the OPP and other parts of the province are promoting and taking part in this program with their local residents,” said Al Boyd, chair of the Manitoulin Community Police Advisory Committee (CPAC) at a Zoom meeting last week. “It is a very simple program that acts like the old Neighbourhood Watch program. With all the technology out there these days it seems everyone who has a business or someone who owns a home or cottage is putting in security cameras. With the CAMSafe program they can sign up to be part of this program and can, through the program, allow the police to view their cameras if they are carrying out an investigation in the area.”
CAMSafe is a new program aimed at creating a database of private security cameras in the province. It will act as a resource for police when investigating criminal offences, the CAMSafe website explains. “Studies have shown security cameras have not only reduced crime rates but also act as an extra set of eyes to help police identify and apprehend criminals. The program establishes a community network that will help protect our neighbourhoods.”
“Only the property owner will ever have direct access to your security system and account information. The program is a resource allowing police to know the location of cameras within a geographic area when investigating crime. If police require access to your footage, they will reach out to you and make a request directly,” the information reads.
“Individuals can register for the CAMSafe program and their location will be put on a Google map,” said Mr. Boyd. “In an investigation by the police, if an officer can see five cameras etc. in a community, they can ask the property owner if they can view their video.”
“It is a program that has been found to be extremely effective,” stated Mr. Boyd.
Mr. Boyd pointed out that instead of police officers having to go door to door to ask local residents if they saw anything that could help them in a criminal investigation that has taken place, by having this database officers can reach out to residents who have the cameras and ask if they can view their camera to help in an investigation. “I know several communities in the province are participants.”
“From a municipal perspective I am a member of the business association in NEMI and I would like to bring this program forward to them,” said Mr. Boyd.
“It’s a great program,” stated Manitoulin OPP detachment Inspector Commander Robert Walsh. “I have a fair bit of information and resource packages and media information to go with it. We will be promoting the program for consideration by members of the public to participate in the program. The number of serious crimes solved by having access to this camera footage has made it an incredible program.”
Inspector Walsh noted, “Someone who registers for CAMSafe doesn’t have to give the police access to a private residence or business owner’s camera. The decision is theirs. The OPP would only have the database indicating in which locations there are cameras set up. We would contact the property owners to see if they would allow us to see the video on their camera to help in an investigation.”
“A property owner can register any security camera they have with as many or as few details as they wish,” CAMSafe explains. “If a crime is committed and officers believe the footage may benefit the investigation, an officer will contact you to request the footage. You can delete your account and change your information at any time. And you are under no obligation to share your footage with police. Having a resource with real-time maps and camera locations in a municipality will not reduce the time officers spend searching for footage, but will play a pivotal role in a fast-moving investigation such as a potential kidnapping or robbery.”
