The City Police have successfully completed the second phase of installing surveillance cameras across main points in the city.
During the first phase, 38 cameras were installed, but only at main junctions and strategic points. During the second phase, 92 cameras have been installed.
“We are planning to have 300 cameras in place. This will cover the entire city,” said P.K. Vijayappan, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Control Room.
Twenty-five fixed cameras and 15 dome cameras, which can cover 360 degree angle, were installed in the first phase. Personnel at the Control Room, who monitor the visuals round-the-clock, can zoom in up to 100 metres closer to the subject.
“Eight officers will be on duty at any given point of time at the Control Room. These personnel will be monitoring visuals on 20 monitors available right now and can also attend phone calls and wireless messages,” he said.
At present, the police can have an automatic back-up of visuals captured in these cameras for up to 14 days. In case of any accidents or law violations recorded within that period, it will be recorded and kept for another three months.
“We have requested for an increase in the back-up period to 45 days and process to make that change is already on,” said Mr. Vijayappan.
The City Police are also finalising on the structural design of the new sophisticated Control Room near the Vytilla Mobility Hub.
“By the time 300 cameras become active, we are planning to have a circular structure to project visuals from all of them. It will be convenient to monitor the visual in that way,” he said.
The City Police could respond quickly enough when a major fire broke out at a shopping complex at Marine Drive as the personnel monitoring visuals from the cameras could send out alerts on time. Similarly, a three-member group that stole laptop computers from a shop at Thevara was nabbed after the police personnel followed visuals recorded in surveillance cameras.
