The Police Department is putting up security cameras across the city – which has the country’s highest crime rate. The Ministry of Home Affairs has invested major money in a system that can accommodate close to 100 cameras across the city. Right now, there’s only six – but still, in an election week – why not roll them out? And that’s just what the police, not the politicians did today. We found out about the birth of “Big Brother.”
Jules Vasquez Reporting,
Perched atop this lamppost at Pound Yard Bridge, the camera seems harmless enough, static…almost like a sleeping sentinel. And while it doesn’t look like much, inside is a powerful zoom lens, 23 times, that’s double what
our video cameras have – and the ability to rotate 360 degrees
You get a better idea of how powerful it is when you come here, the control room at the Raccoon Street Police Station. It’s about a half a mile away, at the Raccoon Street Police Station, where the view is very different. In here, police have control of every movement of the cameras. Using this joystick, they can zoom in, or whirl around – seeing the panorama of one of Belize’s busiest areas or the pen in this policeman’s pocket, who’s getting out of a car at the Novelo’s terminal or this sign at the corner of Euphrates Avenue, right into the full view of Cemetery Road into Orange Street.
Supt. Edward Broaster,
“This one camera can cover 360 degree view of this entire area. It will feed the data through the fiber to our command center where we have the digital video recorder at that location.”
It’s one of six such cameras that have been installed across the city – the other that’s working right now is at the Bel China Bridge – where you can see the Belize River, right up to what cargo this seagoing man may have stowed in his skiff:
Supt. Edward Broaster,
“These six cameras, we have placed them in strategic locations where they are a lot of pedestrians and commuters and commerce occurring and system
that we have put in place can accommodate up to 96 cameras. So we are looking forward to installing other cameras throughout the city and the hotspots over a period of time.”
And those hotspots are expected to see a major decrease in crime. Nino Vaprio came from Panama to oversee installation of the network of CATS as they are called, controlled area tactical surveillance.
Supt. Edward Broaster,
“This will definitely act as a significant toll in the suppression of crime Jules, we are looking at reducing crime by 30% upon the installation of a special number of cameras that we are looking at. The crime definitely will be reduced with the installation of the amount we have looked at assessed, will reduce the crime by 30% immediately.”
Jules Vasquez,
Not with these 6 cameras though.
Supt. Edward Broaster,
“Not necessarily with the six cameras but the six cameras will help us significantly in policing this entire area. This one camera here at Pound Yard will assist us in policing this entire area.”
Nino Vaprio,
“In our experience, like in Panama, Mexico, Venezuela, the communities that install this - the crime decreases between 20% and 30% in those communities. Also the traffic control will get better and the people will respect more the law because when, as you know, as human beings we are also aware if somebody is watching us.”
And that’s the thing, now somebody’s always watching. And what does that say about a citizen’s right to privacy?
Jules Vasquez,
There could be community concerns about invasion of privacy, that you could zoom right to see their window.
Supt. Edward Broaster,
“Whatever the eyes can see from the public, is not considered private. So there is concern there where the camera is concerned.”
Jules Vasquez,
But the camera has a height and a perspective that a person on the street may not have and more concerningly, it has the ability to record – permanently.
Supt. Edward Broaster,
“And the height and the perspective the camera has is to prevent crime, to track criminals, and to ensure the public’s safety – not to invade people’s privacy.”
Jules Vasquez,
There is something a bit disconcerting about constantly being watched, it is like big brother is watching you. Is that something the community should be concerned about?
Supt. Edward Broaster,
“The only person who should be concerned about that Jules are the criminals.”
And that’s the hope: that citizens take a shine to it and that these cameras will deter crime instead of catching criminals in the act.
Jules Vasquez,
Is that the hope, not that you will be able to see and record a crime in progress but that the presence of the camera will stop the crime from ever happening?
Supt. Edward Broaster,
“Well that’s not necessarily the hope of our expectation of the camera, that is the effectiveness of the camera. The criminal or the suspect who intends to commit a crime in reality does not know if he is being recorded, if he is being watched, and that is the advantage the camera has because the camera has a 360 degree angle and you never know Jules, don’t take the chance.”
Because they will be watching….
The cameras are equipped with a hardened acrylic shield, which makes them impact resistant. Additionally, the mounting is made of stainless steel.
