City Surveillance
Boston Bombings Will Have Spillover Effect On Security At Popular Events In Wisconsin
Wisconsin
London Councillor Renews Campaign For More Old East Cameras
Metro file A London councillor is renewing his campaign to have security cameras added to streets in Old East Village. Security cameras are still the solution to Old East’s problems, its local councillor says. And Stephen Orser, who represents Ward 4, says he has proof that electronic eyes bring results. This week, a $200 fine was slapped on a defendant at the London courthouse after the admitted dumping of garbage in Old East. It follows another successful result two weeks ago, when a different offender pleaded guilty and was fined $350. Both criminal cases follow dumping problems in the parking lot between Dundas Street and Queens Avenue. It’s that much-discussed area between Adelaide and Rectory that’s the focus of complaints about anti-social behaviour, drugs, and other crime. In each cases, the offender was caught on camera. A public appeal was put out via news media and social media, and the people ditching their garbage in the city parking lot found themselves in court. “The surveillance cameras that staff have put up are working,” said Orser. “Two convictions are evidence of that. “With that being said, the ongoing dumping problem is going to come to an end in wider streets. “The free ride is over in Old East Village.” Orser’s involved in the Old East Neighbourhood Safety Task Force, which has more than 50 members with connections to the area. They’re discussing ways to make lives better in the village and having a series of meetings during the first half of […]
Source metronews.ca
Coward Getting New Cameras To Combat Vandalism
COWARD, SC (WMBF) The Town of Coward’s park underwent an $8,000 renovation just one year ago. New paint and new roofs over the picnic area were just some the updates, but soon cameras will watch the area because vandals have been wrecking this park. "They have gone in there and filled the sinks full of sand, and the commodes to the point that we have actually had to open the septic tank and have it cleaned out," said Coward’s Mayor Dianne Thomas. Those are just some of the problems Mayor Dianne Thomas has been forced to put up with when it comes to the vandalism taking place at the town’s park and ball fields. "The concession stand was broken into twice. The first time, my understanding is they took all of the goodies that were inside there. That is sold at the ball games," Thomas said. Thomas said cash was also stolen out of the same concession stand and the crimes don’t stop there. Thomas said thieves tried to break into the equipment room at the ball fields and steal the stuff stored inside, but luckily they were unsuccessful. "But they did mess up the door on there and that had to be repaired," the mayor said. Repairs from the vandalism and would-be thefts have been costing the town, but Thomas thinks she finally has the answer to the town’s problems. Security cameras will soon be installed around the park, town hall and ball fields. "It will be a […]
Source www.wmbfnews.com
Ypsilanti Township Wants Security Cameras In Every Neighborhood
YPSILANTI TOWNSHIP, Mich. – For the past few years there has been another set of eyes looking over the West Willow neighborhood in Ypsilanti Township, providing those who live there, such as Tony Slaughter, an added sense of security. "When they put the security cameras up I kind of thought crime would decrease and it kind of has in a way," he said. Township leaders say it’s a good crime-fighting tool. It has helped police track down a sexual predator who was preying on children. Right now there are 10 security cameras up in certain areas of Ypsilanti Township. Township leaders want security cameras in every neighborhood. Mike Radzik, the director of the Office of Community Standards, knows for some neighbors it’s a hard sell because of privacy concerns. "We are recording images that a police officer would see if he or she were standing in the same place. They are only in public places," he said. The township still is working on a cost-effective plan to get the cameras up in more places. "The township will invest in the infrastructure, actually put the cameras out and deploy them and there will be a special assessment on the homes in the neighborhood for the operating expense going forward, which will be a very nominal fee for this measure of public safety," Radzik. For Slaughter, now he knows that when he’s not keeping watch of his neighborhood, something else is. It’s a warning to criminals to stay away.
Source www.clickondetroit.com
Surveillance Cameras Keep Watch In Mountain Brook, AL
MOUNTAIN BROOK, Alabama – – Walk around nearly any city and you’ll notice. You’ll notice them watching you, recording your actions, tracking your comings and goings. In this day and age, security cameras are part of everyday life. So much so, that for the most part, we barely even notice them. It’s almost safe to assume they’re always there. Here at AL.com, we wanted to know: Who’s Watching You? In Mountain Brook at least, several city departments utilize cameras–though perhaps not the one’s you’d expect to. "The Public Works facility has 21 cameras that are used for security," said Public Works Director Ronnie Vaughn. The facility, located at 3579 East Street in Cahaba Heights, houses Mountain Brook’s Right of Way and Traffic Division, Heavy Construction Division, Fleet Management Division, and Forestry Division. For now, said Vaughn, the number of cameras that help keep the building safe are "adequate." "I see no need to increase the number," he said. Quieter areas, like the city’s parks, for example, currently lack security cameras. Shanda Williams, Parks/Recreation Superintendent , said the city currently does not have any cameras installed at the various parks. There are some, however, at the Parks and Recreation facility that she believes are "very useful." "Besides security reasons" said Williams, "they can be used to keep track of employees coming and going." Williams said that along with the cameras, a handy monitoring system allows her to rewind the video and record segments that can be used for evidence. "I […]
Source blog.al.com
Progress Made On Freeport IL Public Safety Plan
FREEPORT – Thirty-two gas stations and retail shops that sell tobacco have installed video cameras in an effort to help police reduce crime. The surveillance camera initiative is among several public safety initiatives rolled out last year by Mayor Jim Gitz’s administration. Aldermen discussed progress that’s been made and remaining goals to tackle in the year ahead at a Committee of the Whole meeting Monday. The public safety plan aims to reduce crime by creating safer neighborhoods, promoting personal accountability, developing stronger community relationships, creating safe housing, fostering interdepartmental cooperation in distribution of city resources and making sound, data-driven decisions. Aldermen raised the majority of their questions Monday about the safer neighborhoods goal, which involves tobacco licensing, street lights and pole cameras and a K-9 program. The Police Department has implemented a program for licensing of tobacco merchants in order to hold them accountable for maintenance and operation of security cameras in their stores. "The program that we’re implementing does two things: it gives us a licensing framework in which we can say, ‘Look, this isn’t working. You need to fix it,’ the same way we do with liquor," Gitz said. "The second thing it does is give us – finally – a tool that we also can utilize for the surveillance cameras. Most of these stores, they don’t have good surveillance, which is a far bigger problem than who has what cigarettes." Deputy Police Chief Jim Drehoble has visited retail outlets throughout the city to ensure the video […]
Source www.journalstandard.com
Boulder Police Secretly Install Surveillance Cameras On Municipal Campus Between City Hall, Library
BOULDER, Colo. – Some Boulder residents are questioning their police department’s decision to install surveillance cameras in the park area between city hall and the public library, without letting the public know. The city quietly placed two cameras on the municipal building and one on the library in early January. When asked about the secrecy, Boulder Police Department spokeswoman Kim Kobel said, "The reason those cameras were installed is because we have an ongoing criminal investigation in the area." Kobel gave few details about the investigation, but did say police have received numerous complaints about criminal behavior, including assault, threatening behavior, urinating in public and drug dealing. "In some cases, we have drug dealing to high school students," she said. The cameras have touched a raw nerve with some residents, especially those who hang out in the public space. "They’re violating our rights and our freedom," said Bailey Flood. When asked if it would have made a difference if the city had been upfront about the cameras, Flood replied, "No, it’s an invasion of privacy." Not everyone looks at it that way. "They’re fine," said Jeff Swann, who admits that he drinks regularly while sitting on a park bench in front of City Hall. "Cameras are a part of life." Swann says he’s observed a lot of criminal behavior in the park. "There was a big fight here two or three days ago," he said. "It was a real live brawl. It lasted five minutes. Both guys were […]
Source www.thedenverchannel.com
Cisco And AGT Form ‘Smart City’ Global Alliance To Transform How Cities Are Managed And Secured
SAN JOSE, CA–(Marketwired – Feb 5, 2014) – Cisco ( NASDAQ : CSCO ), the worldwide leader in IT, and AGT International, a global leader in city solutions, today announced a Smart City Global Strategic Alliance that will deliver the promise of the Internet of Everything (IoE) through edge analytics and cloud technologies that dramatically change the way cities are managed and safeguarded. The combination of intelligent networking, virtualized computing and video management software from Cisco and smart city software platform, sensor gateway and analytics from AGT will provide cost-effective and efficient delivery of services that enhance the daily lives of citizens and improve urban services — from transportation and healthcare to utilities infrastructure and disaster preparedness and personal safety. Wim Elfrink, executive vice president, Industry Solutions and Chief Globalisation Officer, Cisco, said : "Today, 99 percent of the physical world is not connected to the Internet. However, cities are the epicenter of the Internet of Everything, where people, things, data and processes can be connected to deliver new and amazing value. Think about the possibilities. It is a vision we can realize today through the unique combination of Cisco’s unparalleled networking and computing technology and AGT’s cutting-edge smart cities platform. With its recognized leadership in software and analytical solutions that improve everyday life, AGT is an ideal partner to transform city management." Mati Kochavi, CEO, AGT, said : "The Cisco and AGT alliance brings a holistic view of urban ecosystems, which are being challenged by dramatic growth and […]
Source www.stockhouse.com
Oakland Privacy Activists Threaten To Sue The City To Stop Surveillance Project
Captain Darren Allison addressed the League of Women Voters forum last week on the DAC. A coalition of activists opposed to the construction of Oakland’s Domain Awareness Center say they’re ready to take the city to court to stop the controversial surveillance project. Brian Hofer, a lawyer working with the Oakland Privacy Working Group, is delivering a letter to Mayor Jean Quan, the city council, the city administrator, and the city attorney today. The letter states that the group will "seek judicial relief" to halt the project. Hofer and his clients claim that the planned contractor to carry out work on Phase 2 of the DAC, Schneider Electric, is also a nuclear weapons contractor, and that hiring the company would violate Oakland’s Nuclear Weapons Free Zone Ordinance. The Express reported on November 19, 2013 that all of the contractors under consideration for the contract to build the DAC were linked to nuclear weapons work , but that Schneider Electric seemed to have only indirect contracts, providing security cameras to a Navy nuclear weapons facility. Since then the Oakland Privacy Working Group uncovered detailed evidence of what they say is Schneider Electric’s close work with military and US Energy Department agencies that design, build, and deploy nuclear weapons systems. The letter delivered to the city today includes a photocopy of Schneider Electric marketing materials in which the company describes itself as a "global specialist" in "weapon launching control system for nuclear submarines," and "nuclear weapons handling systems." The activists have […]
Source www.eastbayexpress.com
San Jose, CA Police May Tap Residents’ Private Security Cameras
Police would be able to tap into San Jose residents’ private video cameras under a new proposal that would expand investigators’ watchful eye over the city but already is raising big brother-type privacy concerns. Councilman Sam Liccardo’s proposal, unveiled Thursday and set to be discussed by a City Council committee next week, would allow property owners voluntarily to register their security cameras for a new San Jose Police Department database. Officers then would be able to access the footage quickly after a nearby crime has occurred. It is the latest effort designed to shore up public safety in a city that has seen its reputation as one of the safest big cities in America take a hit in recent years as crime rates have surged and officers have left in droves. The issue is taking center stage heading into the June primary to replace outgoing Mayor Chuck Reed as five local leaders jockey for position as tough-on-crime candidates. Liccardo, among several council members running for mayor, unveiled the proposal in response to the string of arson fires that terrorized his downtown-area district this month. Police used surveillance videos provided voluntarily by nearby property owners as key evidence in identifying a suspect they arrested on suspicion of burning about a dozen buildings. "It became apparent that there’s a lot of evidence out there that residents want to provide," Liccardo said, predicting that the cost would be nominal because existing city technology employees could maintain the database. The new database "is […]
Source www.emergencymgmt.com
Sochi Visitors Face Armed Guards, Full-Body Scanners, Security Cameras
Online Games Government Grants Parking Tickets On guard: Military police officers at a train station in Sochi. Photo: Reuters Sochi: Fans of downhill skiing would be forgiven for thinking they had arrived at a military base when showing up in Sochi for the Winter Olympics. Ticket holders must walk under an array of cameras hooked up to face -recognition software before traversing the checkpoints and the mesh fences to make their way beyond the armed guards . If picked out, they then have to step into a full-body scanner. All spectators must pass through metal detectors twice and present their documents three times. "The guests are the lucky ones," said a man who works for a logistics company that helped organise the opening ceremony. "The staff isn’t. I spend hours getting through security checks every day." While heightened scrutiny is the norm at such events, the edges are sharper in the Russian Black Sea resort town following a spate of terrorist bombings that killed more than 30 people. An Islamic militant group last week posted a video threatening to deliver a "present" for visitors to Sochi, which was sealed off on January 7 as Russian President Vladimir Putin pledged to do everything to make the games safe without "depressing participants". The government has deployed 40,000 police and special services officers. "Of course these measures are a bit annoying," said the head of Russia’s curling federation, Dmitry Svishev. "But then you think about what efforts are taken to guarantee the […]
Source buahmanfaat.blogspot.com
Fayetteville NC Police Urge Businesses To Use Video Surveillance
FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – As a way to catch criminals and deter crime, the Fayetteville Police Department is working to improve surveillance cameras at businesses. Kari Ellis, the department’s specialist in video, is spreading the word about an initiative called "Video Done Right." On Thursday she presented information about the initiative to a group of business owners and managers who were interested in installing or improving surveillance systems. Ellis started the program to give businesses the "dos and don’ts" of setting up surveillance systems. It covers what cameras to use, where to place them and the settings that capture the best pictures. Ellis, or other crime prevention specialists with the same training, will even examine the current setup at a business and provide feedback. Ellis said she was inspired to start the program because she often needed to examine video at a place where a crime had occurred, but many times the video was poor quality because for any number of reasons. She said poor video isn’t very helpful, but good video makes a big difference for police. "When you put that evidence in front of a jury, what can they say? That’s you. A lot of times their mother will identify them. Their friends will rat them out. So yeah, video is really integral in solving crime," Ellis said. Ellis said the Shaniya Davis kidnapping and murder case is a prime example of how good surveillance is helpful. She wishes every business would have a system as good as […]
Source www.wncn.com
Jersey City Police “Eye In The Sky” Monitoring Journal Square Travelers
Holiday shoppers and travelers passing through Journal Square will be under the watchful gaze of a Jersey City Police Department ?eye in the sky? which is an elevated booth that can accommodate police officers and is fitted with closed circuit video cameras, officials said today. The ?eye in the sky? is located on Journal Square Plaza near the fountain at Kennedy Boulevard and Bergen Avenue. It stands about 25-feet-tall, has flood lights, cameras pointed in several directions, the capacity to transmit video live for officers to monitor at a remote location and it records all video captured by its cameras. ?It is there for the high volume of people during the holiday season,? Jersey City Police Department spokeswoman Jennifer Morrill said this afternoon. ?The police department is constantly redeploying its assets throughout the city.? A 36-year-old Jersey City man making his commute home at 5:20 p.m. tonight said he imagines the tower is a useful deterrent to thieves and other criminals but noted, ?I didn’t even notice it was there? after having walking past the imposing structure. A cab driver waiting to pick up passengers nearby said he didn’t feel the location of the surveillance tower was well chosen. He pointed at three security cameras nearby on the side of Duane Reade and Santander Bank which are apparently monitored by the Port Authority, saying ?I don?t know why they put it there, there are cameras everywhere here.? The cabbie added, ?If someone wants to do something, then they are […]
Source www.nj.com
Video Surveillance Of Downtown Houston To Expand
HOUSTON (AP) — Police surveillance of downtown Houston is expanding with 180 new cameras that will bring the number of video feeds available to law enforcement authorities by early 2014 to nearly 1,000. The Houston Chronicle reported Thursday (http://bit.ly/1c7oMnF ) most cameras are pointed on public areas around downtown, including its theater district and stadiums. "With all the homeland security requirements that we have — we have more critical infrastructure to protect than New York City — we can’t do it without video," Police Chief Charles McClelland told the newspaper. The city has spent more than $18 million in federal money to build its camera system and has another $5 million in reserve. Houston also has expanded its video network through private sharing agreements, such as by accessing networks along rail lines. The expansion comes despite shrinking national security grants for video surveillance and studies showing mixed results on whether the presence of cameras improves public safety. Nancy La Vigne, a justice policy researcher with the nonprofit Urban Institute, said cameras help but can’t replace beat officers. "You need that human interaction," said La Vigne, whose 2011 study of surveillance networks showed variances in their effectiveness. In Baltimore, for example, where officers were trained to monitor video feeds, crime was reduced. In Chicago, while cameras at one park cut the crime rate in half, they had little impact at another, according to the study. But C.O. Bradford, a Houston city councilman and former Houston police chief, said the technology […]
Source www.khou.com
Bomb-Sniffing Dogs, Video Surveillance Part Of 2014 Rose Parade Security Plan
2013_rose_parade.jpg PASADENA, Calif. – Police plan to use bomb-sniffing dogs and wide-ranging video surveillance as part of a Rose Parade security plan developed after the Boston Marathon bombings that killed three and injured 260, it was reported Tuesday. Police officials said the Pasadena Police Department has been working for months analyzing national tragedies like the Boston Marathon bombings. Additionally officers have negotiated with business owners for full-time access to private security cameras. "All eyes will be on Pasadena that day," Police Chief Phillip Sanchez said in remarks reported by the Pasadena Star-News. Sanchez urged the hundreds of thousands of expected spectators to be vigilant. "If one of the parade goers sees something suspicious, and what I mean by that is they walk up and put a bag down and they walk away from that bag, have the courage and the insight and the willingness to engage and call that to the attention of local law enforcement officers," he said. Police Lt. Tracey Ibarra said the department has spent months working with businesses along the parade route to encourage them to tell their customers that if they "see something, say something." She also said police have coordinated with business owners so the department will have 24-hour access to their private security cameras if they are needed. Sanchez said 1,100 to 1,200 uniformed and covert officers will patrol the parade route. Also, more bomb sniffing dogs will be used. The dogs […]
Source www.10news.com
Integrated Security System Goes Live At Thailand’s Ratchaprasong Square
Home » business » Integrated security system set up at Ratchaprasong Square The Ratchaprasong Square Trade Association and its members have set up an integrated security system, which it says is the country’s biggest and most extensive, to ensure the safety and confidence of tourists in the central Bangkok shopping district during the New Year celebrations. In cooperation with Panasonic Siew Sales (Thailand) Co, the RSTA has spent Bt5 million to upgrade 83 closed-circuit TV cameras to include full high-definition viewing, 30-times zooming and panoramic recording. Ratchaprasong’s CCTV control centre also had a major upgrade with new software to connect the networks of more than 1,500 security cameras in 12 malls and hotels into a single system. The association also strengthened its cooperation with the Royal Thai Police to help reduce crime in the area. "All members of the RSTA, namely Gaysorn Shopping Centre, Amarin Plaza, CentralWorld, Erawan Bangkok, Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok, InterContinental Bangkok, Holiday Inn Bangkok, Four Seasons Bangkok, Renaissance Bangkok Ratchaprasong, Maneeya Center, President Tower Arcade, and the Erawan Shrine have joined with the Royal Thai Police to set up a security solution for the district under three core strategies. These are technology, personnel, and proactive and defensive measures," RSTA president Chai Srivikorn said. "The result is a unified security system of the highest efficiency designed specifically for our square. It is considered the biggest and most comprehensive security-system network in Thailand, which can be used to prevent or reduce the crime rate to zero. "Our […]
Source www.nationmultimedia.com
Russian Blast Caught On Security Cameras
Source video.theloop.ca
Chatham County GA Park Gets More Security Cameras Following Illicit Activities
Chatham County plans to install surveillance cameras at L. Scott Stell Park after reports of vandalism and thefts. Signage at the park warns visitors to protect their valuables. Marcus E. Howard/Savannah Morning News ” src=”http://sav-cdn.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/story_slideshow_thumb/12897297.jpg”> <p node="media-caption">Chatham County plans to install surveillance cameras at L. Scott Stell Park after reports of vandalism and thefts. Signage at the park warns visitors to protect their valuables. Marcus E. Howard/Savannah Morning News </p> Thievery, vandalism and sexcapades continue to wreak havoc at Chatham County’s L. Scott Stell Park. At the request of the county Public Works and Park Services Department, Chatham County commissioners have approved a contract to buy four additional high-definition surveillance cameras at the park just off Little Neck Road with the hope of discouraging further problems. The thefts and repairs resulting from the vandalism, according to department officials, have cost the county an estimated $10,000. “Because the place is so isolated, they’ve stolen equipment we have, like weed eaters and lawnmowers,” said Lorenzo Bryant, the department’s recreation manager. “They have a lot of vandalism that occurs out there; so you have to go out on a regular basis.” The problems have occurred over the past four years, according to officials. Last year, thieves twice broke into a storage shed and stole a utility vehicle. About 300-feet of chain link fencing has also been taken. Security cameras, as well as a gate, were installed near the park’s shed in the summer of 2012 at the large recreation park, which has […]
Source savannahnow.com
Lincoln Police: Downtown Security Cameras To Be Turned On
Home / Headlines List / Article Lincoln, Neb.– Lincoln Police say they’re turning on security cameras in downtown in an effort to curb crime in the area. The cameras were installed at 14th & O Streets in November 2012, but haven’t been turned on until now. According to Lincoln Police Chief Jim Peschong, in one year the city sees over 4,000 reported assaults, 146 of those happened at that intersection. That’s more than any other part of the city and now the intersection is at its highest level of crime, according to Peschong. He hopes the cameras will help catch people causing trouble, but some wonder if they will keep the mischief away or just customers in general. Some downtown business owners told city leaders in July that they’re worried that new security cameras may scare customers away. “It is another tool to portray 14th & O Street inaccurate,” said Scott Hatfield, who has owned Duffy’s Tavern for six years. Officials say in addition to helping the police department identify those involved in a crime, police say the footage can serve as evidence in court. Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station. powered by Disqus
Source www.1011now.com
Mayor?s Proposal Would Add 3.7 Miles Of Surveillance Cameras In Evanston IL
Cameras would stretch along the entire length of Dodge Avenue and most of Church Street, in order to provide a safe route for kids to walk to school, according to the mayor. A map shows the location of the proposed surveillance cameras. Evanston Mayor Elizabeth Tisdahl is recommending that the city add a total of 3.7 miles of surveillance cameras along Church Street and Dodge Avenue. After a resolution to create a “safe school zone” and extend policing powers around Evanston Township High School failed to pass city council , Tisdahl’s proposal is designed to provide an alternative measure to enhance safety for children walking to and from the high school. Speaking before city council members Monday, Tisdahl said that students would have fights on school grounds or across the street if they wanted it to be stopped, but if they didn’t want police or school security officers to step in, they would move the fight a few blocks from the high school. To stay up to date on this and other Evanston news, sign up for our free newsletter , like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter . “I certainly think we owe our students a safe route in and out of high school,” she said. Under the mayor’s proposal, police would add surveillance cameras along the entire 2.5-mile stretch of Dodge Avenue from Simpson to Howard streets, and along a 1.2-mile stretch of Church Street from city limits at McCormick Boulevard to Ridge Avenue. Cameras […]
Source evanston.patch.com