City Surveillance
Sacramento County Sheriff Creates Voluntary Registry For Surveillance Camera Footage
Sacramento County authorities are asking residents and business owners to provide video-surveillance footage to law enforcement investigators. Officials are encouraging property owners with surveillance cameras to sign up for the Sheriff’s Electronic Eye program, the Sacramento Bee reported. The new voluntary registry would alert law enforcement agencies when there are any privately owned surveillance cameras […]
VideoSurveillance.com Launches Crowdsourced Security Camera Map In Boston
VideoSurveillance.com, a virtual security integrator, today announced the expansion of its CommunityCam initiative to Boston in time for the 2014 Boston Marathon. CommunityCam is a free, crowdsourced security camera map that creates consumer benefit in the network of privately placed cameras like the Lord & Taylor camera that captured footage of the Boston Marathon bombers […]
Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful Donates Surveillance Cameras To City Of Pittsburgh
Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful said they have donated high-tech surveillance cameras to the City of Pittsburgh to support enhanced enforcement efforts surrounding the act of illegal dumping within the City limits. The high quality, motion activated, covert security cameras provide instant wireless transmission of site activity, photo documentation of license plates at speeds of up to […]
Mexico City: Telmex And Thales To Double Capacity Of World?s Most Advanced Urban Security System
Thales, in partnership with Telmex, a leading telecommunications provider in Mexico and Latin America, has once again been selected by Mexico City to integrate a further 7,000 video surveillance cameras to protect citizens as part of the Ciudad Segura1 project. Under this new contract, Mexico City will double the capacity of its urban security system, […]
Boston’s Legacy: Can Crowdsourcing Really Fight Crime?
For many, the first images of the Boston Marathon bombing — a cloud of dark smoke rising up over Boylston Street — came from Twitter or Instagram. The FBI received thousands of hastily snapped photos as they hunted the culprits. But does a camera in every pocket actually make snaring criminals any easier? “The Internet […]
Boston Marathon Security Upgraded With Network Of Surveillance Cameras
The Boston Marathon is getting a security upgrade with an increase in the number of eyes watching video feeds from surveillance cameras. Ten different agencies will be involved in security for the entire 26.2-mile marathon route April 21. New security cameras were recently installed. What’s new and different that has Massachusetts leading the country is […]
Here’s What Louisville Authorities Will See From The City’s New Security Camera System
At the end of last month, Louisville officials announced that the city would install dozens of new security cameras that would monitor Waterfront Park in real time. It was a reaction to a string of violence on March 22 in downtown Louisville. Those cameras are now operational. Here’s a glimpse of what they’ll be able […]
Peru To Install New Security Cameras At Machu Picchu
Peru’s government plans to install a number of security cameras at the ancient Inca citadel of Machu Picchu, in an attempt to crack down on streaking tourists at the site, daily Correo reported. Ricardo Ruiz, Cusco’s regional director for culture, said that 12 high-definition security cameras will be installed at the ancient ruins in order […]
Los Gatos Police Say Downtown Crime Decreased In 2013
Crime in downtown Los Gatos decreased from 2012 to 2013, from 81 to 63 reported incidents. Police shared these statistics with merchants at a March 20 safety meeting that was sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce. The downtown reporting area goes well beyond Santa Cruz Avenue and Main Street. Police noted that it encompasses the […]
Surveillance Cameras To Be Installed In Kirkuk, Iraq
Preparations have been made in Kirkuk to install security cameras in the downtown area, at the entrances of the city and all the checkpoints. The security committee of Kirkuk announced in a press conference at the Kirkuk directorate of police the first phase of the surveillance camera project. The cameras have arrived and they will […]
Seattle Police Win Approval To Use Facial Recognition software
Seattle Police just won approval to use facial recognition software Seattle police just won approval to use facial recognition software. But privacy advocates say that endangers the privacy of every Seattle citizen. Critics fear sophisticated software that can capture images of people on the move, then use a vast database to instantly identify them. Seattle police have a more modest plan — comparing mug shots to surveillance video, using technology paid for by the federal Department of Homeland Security. “It could not be used to ID citizens who are not either actively involved in a criminal process or that the officer did not reasonably suspect was involved in criminal activity,” said city councilmember Sally Bagshaw. But in the face of controversies over the police access to surveillance cameras, and the special Wi-Fi network they also got a federal grant to install. So privacy advocates are skeptical. “As we’ve learned the NSA and the FBI will gain access to any hardware that you install whether you want to or not,” said Lee Colton. Supporters say using facial recognition software simple automates what police now do by hand. But critics say that automation is the problem. “It vastly increases the amount of pursuing individuals who may be not quite so suspicious, not quite such clear suspects who are really less valuable leads for them and yet now they have time to do that,” said David Robinson of the Seattle Privacy Coalition. Public Safety Chair Bruce Harrell tailored the program to win […]
Source www.kirotv.com
Big Brother, Small City: River Islands Will Feature Heavy Surveillance
LATHROP (CBS13) — A new, scenic development surrounded by winding waterways is billed as a safe haven. Only four bridges lead in and out of the area with security checkpoints and a fiberoptic video surveillance program. Every license plate scanned on those roads will be cross-checked with a DMV database for stolen cars. The first homes are already going up at River Islands, and the people who move in can expect to be part of a new era in policing. Cops could also surprise suspicious individuals through remote one-way speakers—the same shown in a video of a Southern California city where cameras are set up at a park with high crime. In that video, teens scrambled after the video operator warns them the park is closed. It’s Big Brother in a small city. Jarrod Miles moved his family to Lathrop from San Jose. “My wife and I were looking for a place that was safe for our daughter, and so that’s why we chose out here,” he said. Lathrop’s city manager says he’s considering buying a high-tech city-wide surveillance system as a way to solve crime faster and also deter it. Aware there could be privacy concerns, Miles says he’s unsure how comfortable non-stop surveillance makes him. “I can see myself going either way on it,” he said. “I think it’s a good thing to debate.” Karen Nguyen moved to Lathrop from Oakland to live in a safer place. “It’s good to have surveillance, but also if it’s too […]
Source sacramento.cbslocal.com
Increased Camera Surveillance, Bag Searches At 2014 Boston Marathon Route
FRAMINGHAM – Public safety officials announced plans for stepped up security measures at the 2014 Boston Marathon at a joint press conference with marathon organizers on Monday. There will be a significant increase in the public safety presence across the entire route this year but organizers say that they are doing everything they can to maintain the atmosphere of the race. A bulked-up public safety presence will be particularly noticeable at the start and finish lines of the race, as well as in popular spectator areas. "We are confident that the overall experience with runners and spectators will not be impacted and all will enjoy a fun, festive and family-oriented day," said Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency Director Kurt Schwartz. A stepped-up video surveillance and bag inspection effort is planned for the event. Spectators are strongly discouraged from bringing over the shoulder bags or backpacks to any spot along the 26.2 mile route. Searches at screening points are likely according to officials and could lead to long delays at entry points. Spectators are advised to bring all their personal items to the racecourse in a clear plastic bag similar to one they would use for passing through airport security screening checkpoints. An enhanced video surveillance program will be in place along the racecourse. The plan includes the deployment of the portable surveillance cameras that were first used at the 2013 Independence Day celebration on the Boston Esplanade. Private businesses along the course have been contacted about possible involvement in the […]
Source www.masslive.com
Reading PA City Hall’s Video Safety Unit Helps Police Respond More Quickly
Shortly after 5 a.m. on a cold day in January, a crowd outside a club near 10th and Chestnut streets began to get unruly, pushing, shoving and yelling. Then a driver in a parked car backed it quickly, ramming another car full of people. More yelling, more pushing, more shoving – until two gunshots were fired as a warning, their flashes lighting up the darkness.Five seconds later, police arrived and the crowd dispersed before more shots were fired.How did police get there so fast?The disturbance had been caught on one of the 19 new security cameras city police installed last year. The cameras’ images were being monitored by civilians in a City Hall room full of big-screen televisions, computers and joysticks.Worried about the growing tumult, the civilians had radioed police a minute before the shots, suggesting they might want to calm the situation.The system worked.This second round of 19 security cameras, like the first round of 27 cameras, was bought with a federal grant.The entire system now costs a bit more than $300,000 a year to run, the equivalent of three police officers.Police Chief William M. Heim said it’s worth it."They don’t replace cops," he said of the cameras. "But their eyes are on the street in 46 places and record 24/7."The city police force has been cut about 20 percent from five years ago.The camera network "provides eyes in all these sections where we can’t have officers," said Sgt. Stephen Anderson, in charge of City Hall’s Video Safety […]
Source readingeagle.com
Security Cameras Coming To Pelham (Bronx) Parkway Houses
These cameras could wipe the smile off bad guys’ faces. There’ll soon be several hundred security cameras installed to help improve safety at these two east Bronx city housing projectss After two years of waiting since the original city funding was approved, some 2,531 residents at the Pelham Parkway Houses will shortly be seeing 375 security camera installed there. Residents at the Throggs Neck Houses will see similar security cameras installed, thanks to almost $5 million in city funding obtained by City Councilman Jimmy Vacca. Vacca, officials from the NYC Housing Authority and others inked the final paperwork on Friday, Feb. 28 to begin installation work after the two-year red tape funding wait. With a large populaton of senior citizens living in its 23 six-story buildings, the move for security cameras at the Pelham Parkway Houses, off Williamsbridge Road and Astor Avenue,was sparked by the murder of an 88-year-old grandmother two years ago. Vacca previously secured funding for security cameras now in place at two senior citizen NYCHA buildings in his district, at Middletown Plaza and Boston Road Plaza. “Cameras make developments, as well as the surrounding residential communities, safer,” he noted. “I put my money where my mouth is by getting city funding in place,” said Vacca. “Now, the finalization of the Pelham Parkway camera design means we are moving full steam ahead. I’ve told NYCHA very clearly we will accept no delay.” Pelham Parkway Houses Tenants Council President Donna Goodall said she hoped the cameras – both […]
Source www.bxtimes.com
Salem MA Supports Advanced Surveillance At State’s Park & Ride Facilities
SALEM — The town will be supporting a proposed house bill that would allow for more advanced video surveillance at the state’s Park & Ride facilities. The Park & Ride facilities are owned by the state and managed by Concord Coach Lines, which operates the Boston Express service out of Salem. There are already video surveillance cameras at the eight facilities in the state, but the bill introduced by state representative Candace Bouchard would allow for increased resolution for the video cameras. Mark Sanborn, director of government relations for Concord Bus Lines, said the improved surveillance would help make the facilities safer and more secure. Similar high resolution cameras in operation in Maine have also helped assist police departments with drug and kidnapping cases, according to Sanborn. “These are safe and secure facilities right now, but this is another step we can take to continue to make that a top priority,” said Sanborn. Earlier this week, Salem selectmen joined the other communities with Park & Ride facilities, including Nashua, Londonderry, Portsmouth and Dover in sending a letter in support of the house bill by a 3-2 vote. Selectmen Stephen Campbell and James Keller voted against sending a letter in support of the house bill. Campbell said the bill raised issues concerning privacy, and noted that under the state’s Right to Know law, anyone from the public could put in a request for copies of the surveillance. Campbell said he has enough concerns with the government having access to the […]
Source www.unionleader.com
Oakland Neighbors Increasingly Use Surveillance Cameras For Security
Will Kane The motion-activated surveillance camera outside Jesper Jurcenoks’ home in the Oakland hills takes some 12,000 pictures a day. Every car, motorcycle, delivery truck, police car, bicyclist, pedestrian and deer that enters his isolated street off Skyline Boulevard gets photographed. Four times a second. Day and night. When they arrive and when they leave, time-stamped and stored on a server for 60 days. The two cameras, one at each entrance of Jurcenoks’ looping street, form a virtual wall around the neighborhood, he said. For years, Oakland residents have built fences or installed security cameras on their homes because they were fed up with burglaries and auto break-ins. Some neighborhoods hired private security guards to patrol their streets. Now they’re becoming more aggressive in their efforts to fight back. In growing numbers, residents are forming neighborhood groups and spending thousands of dollars on cameras that can monitor the perimeter of entire blocks. They don’t merely want to protect their homes. They want to catch anyone intent on criminal behavior. “We will not a let a criminal enter or leave our neighborhood undetected,” Jurcenoks said. “We’re not saying we can stop the crime. We want to make sure we have a photograph.” Trying to avoid abuse Seven areas across the city have signed up for a neighborhood-wide surveillance system, and dozens more are interested, said Jurcenoks, the founder of Neighborhood Guard , a nonprofit that helps owners set up and install such systems. He installed his neighborhood’s system in 2012, costing the neighborhood association $2,000 for each […]
Source rinf.com
Research: Security As A Key Enabler Of Smart Cities
That was the message when Anthony Leather from analysts Frost & Sullivan described how security is a key enabler of a smart city. By 2025, it’s predicted that there will be at least 26 completely smart cities, with more than half of those in Europe and North America. In the following presentation, delivered at IFSEC International in May 2013, Anthony introduces how intelligent communication systems, renewable energy, and an increase in intelligent buildings all drive a safer and more secure city. He also covers how existing security technology such as video surveillance, video analytics, and biometrics will remain the main focus of a city’s security and how the analysis of key information flow is the main area for improvement in the next generation of security. View the full presentation below:
Source www.ifsecglobal.com
IBM And AT&T To Develop Internet Of Things Solutions For Smarter Cities
IBM and AT&T to Develop Internet of Things Solutions for Smarter Cities According to a new research by Gartner , The Internet of Things (IoT), which excludes PCs, tablets and smartphones, will generate incremental revenue exceeding $300 billion in services in 2020. The services include hardware, embedded software, communications services and information services associated with the things. IBM is investing heavily on smarter cities initiatives as part of its Intelligent Operations Center , Maximo Asset Management , and advanced analytics capabilities. The Blue Chip company is now partnering with AT&T to develop solutions that support the Internet of Things. The two companies intend to combine their analytics platforms, cloud and security technologies in order to gain more insights on data collected from machines in various industries. The new AT&T and IBM alliance will initially focus on the creation of new solutions for municipalities and medium-sized utilities. These organizations want to integrate and analyze data that arise from the records of facilities such as transport vehicles, utility meters and security cameras and other connected devices. The collaboration is important opportunities for urban planners to create better connected cities including better allocation and distribution of operation and maintenance resources based on information from events such as breakdowns; analysis of the movement of commuters to improve the management of traffic, parking areas, location and number of rescue forces. Urban planners can prepare better and respond to prevent or mitigate potential bottlenecks and other difficulties in the event of an emergency. It will […]
Source cloudtimes.org
FirstNet: America’s New Surveillance Network
FirstNet: America’s new surveillance network raises grave privacy concerns While the system has already been tested in a handful of states, and 2014 will likely see it rolled out further. According to a series of presentation slides from December last year, FirstNet will be the “MOST secure wireless network ever built,” sitting entirely separate from the commercially run networks that everyone, including first responders, uses today. This will give FirstNet greater reliability in situations where networks come under extreme pressure, such as when tens of thousands of people contact loved ones during a terrorist attack or natural disaster. It makes sense to have a dedicated network just for first responders during these sorts of events. Thanks to the network being based on the super-fast 4G protocol, it will also allow for a new wave of novel technology. One application is that after ‘tagging’ a disaster victim with a small device, patients’ vital signs can be monitored from a control centre, allowing medical staff to keep an eye on who needs treatment the most at any one time. But FirstNet will also give local law enforcement the ability to take digital “fingerprints from the field,” record and share highquality video, and instantaneously marry these freshly sourced data with others over the network. In the video above, a demonstrator uses facial recognition software on a tablet; finds out if the target is in a linked database, and is immediately provided with a wealth of information on him. Of course, having a […]
Source voiceofrussia.com