Surrey city councillor Linda Annis is advocating for the Surrey Police Service to gain real-time access to the city’s network of 500 traffic cameras to combat crime more effectively.
Annis emphasized the urgency of the situation, citing escalating extortion cases and gang violence in Surrey as key concerns that need to be addressed promptly. She highlighted the importance of equipping law enforcement with all available tools to tackle these crimes effectively, proposing the establishment of a dedicated team to monitor the cameras round the clock.
The councillor pointed out that surveillance cameras are already prevalent in many cities for public safety, such as Kelowna, and stressed the need for Surrey to leverage this technology to enhance community safety.
Concerns were raised regarding the delay in accessing surveillance footage, rendering it ineffective for investigations once incidents have occurred. The Surrey Police Service acknowledged the need to streamline the process of accessing camera feeds and ensure privacy considerations are addressed. They plan to submit a proposal to the city to enable overnight monitoring of the cameras for swift response to urgent situations.
However, Annis’ proposal has faced criticism from civil rights groups, including the BC Civil Liberties Association, citing potential privacy violations and the need to safeguard individuals’ rights. Questions were raised about the compatibility of the proposal with Canadian constitutional principles and the protection of sensitive personal information.
As Annis vies for the mayoral position in the upcoming civic election, she is urging the Surrey Police Service and city senior management to adopt the proposed changes. The Police Service declined to offer further comments on the matter, citing the political nature of Annis’ campaign.