The Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM) will install nine new urban security cameras in Montreal starting this week in order to fight against the increase in shootings and armed violence events.
“Urban security cameras are an additional tool to prevent violent crime, to reassure citizens and to advance investigations,” said Press Inspector David Shane, spokesperson for the SPVM.
The next nine cameras will be deployed in Lachine, the South-West, Saint-Michel, Montreal-North, Saint-Léonard and Rivière-des-Prairies. Sectors experiencing an increase in violent events were selected as a priority.
The images from these cameras can be viewed in real time. The 9 new cameras will be added to the 24 existing cameras, mainly located in the central boroughs of Ville-Marie and Plateau-Mont-Royal.
Since their installation, more than a hundred requests for access to video clips have been made to resolve various investigations, said Mr. Shane. “We often have violent crimes where the individuals involved speak very little to the police. If we have a camera, it helps us to reconstruct the event, to obtain a description of people or a license plate on a vehicle, ”he explained.
“Additional tool” to be supervised
The measure announced by the SPVM was quick to make the candidates for mayor of Montreal react on Monday. “It is an additional tool among many others, and it was requested by the SPVM, because it can really help it in its investigations. I welcome these additions, especially since it is done in places that have experienced several violent events. Nothing is left to chance, ”says Caroline Bourgeois, head of public security on the Executive Committee of the Plante administration.
“Is that going to fix everything?” No. But that’s certainly one of the options. I see it as a tool in times of crisis, ”adds the one who is also outgoing mayor of Rivière-des-Prairies – Pointe-aux-Trembles, a district particularly targeted by the increase in shootings.
The fact remains that “very serious guidelines” will have to be taken, warns the elected representative, who guarantees that “very few people at the SPVM will have access to the images”. Cameras also won’t aim at private entrances or a window, for example. “Everything respects the right to privacy,” says Caroline Bourgeois.
The leader of the Montreal Movement party, Balarama Holness, admits to having concerns. “We should not abuse the power that we can have with these technologies,” he suggests, calling for “specialized training” to be offered to the police officers who will work with these new cameras.
“These investments are legitimate in the context of the increase in violence, but they also show that we are never in prevention mode. We must have a reflex of prevention, investment in leisure, sports, spaces for young people. In the long run, that’s the key, ”he argues.
In the ranks of Ensemble Montreal, Denis Coderre for his part welcomes the initiative, recalling his intention to “launch a discussion on the presence of surveillance cameras in the hottest places”. “This is a step in the right direction, and we nevertheless wish to hold a broad consultation, as there are fundamental ethical questions to be considered”, maintains the former mayor of Montreal.
The complete list of security camera locations can be found on the SPVM website. Frequently asked questions can also be found there.