Vernon Cameras

Starlee Speers - Vernon 105.7 SUN FM

The city of Vernon is moving ahead with the installation of two surveillance cameras downtown. Terry Packenham with the RCMP Safe communities unit says the intent is to give people the opportunity to see what's going on and deter any criminal activity. Packenham says there's nothing different between what Vernon is doing and what businesses are doing in terms of security. Technical issues are slowing the camera installation but Packenham expects they'll go up within the next few months.

The President of the BC Civil Liberties Association says if you thought photo radar was creepy, you should really be concerned about the surveillance cameras being used by police. Rob Holmes says the installation of even just two cameras is the beginning of a slippery slope.Holmes says we should be investing in more well trained police officers who can patrol areas of concern. He says hiring more police officers to patrol trouble areas is a better crime deterrent.Holmes says the issue of surveillance cameras in public space is no different than photo radar, which the general public rejected in 2001.