Camera eyed for Polson

Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: June 10, 2010 6:00 PM

A future visit to Polson Park could involve some intense scrutiny even when no one is around. The Greater Vernon Advisory Committee will investigate the need for a security camera when adult fitness equipment is installed at the park. “If there are any problems with abuse, there should be some monitoring,” said director Mike Gavinchuk, adding there’s been a problem with vandalism and criminal activity in the park before. “There are people there who have no where to go.” Crime continues to be a concern for director Patrick Nicol. “I’d support that (camera) given the history of what goes on there,” he said. Wayne Lippert, GVAC chairman, also favours looking at a camera further, but he is confident that plans for redeveloping Polson Park will help address social problems. “If there are lots of people are around, any instance of misuse or criminal activities will be greatly reduced,” he said. Besides monitoring crime, Gavinchuk believes a camera will provide GVAC with some important information. “We’d be able to find out how much use there is,” he said of the fitness equipment. The only recreational facility currently with a surveillance camera is Creekside Park in Coldstream.

-----------

Vernon Morning Star Editorial June 10, 2010 6:00 PM

Polson plan rolls into spotlight

Anyone who watches crime dramas on television, and judging by the ratings that includes most everybody, knows potentially that a camera may be watching. Any time there’s a crime the first thing the detectives call for is the security camera from the store, bank, apartment complex, nightclub – wherever the incident in question happens to take place. Then just 60 minutes later, thanks to a lot of lab work and some loose fibre that happened to fall off the suspect’s one-of-a-kind attire, the crime is solved and all’s right with the world once more. Now the real world of everyday life isn’t quite like that (either is police work) but we are getting used to the intrusion of being taped by a camera during our everyday activities. Many premises we enter these days have a sticker on the door saying for our own security (and their’s), that there are cameras on duty.

Mostly, we take it in stride. And now the Greater Vernon Advisory Committee is considering the need for a security camera in a revitalized Polson Park that includes adult fitness equipment. Again, another invasion of privacy. However, again, a public place with a history of vandalism and criminal activity that keeps it from being used to its full potential. A tough call that deserves further study. Likely many of us who assume a camera is watching us most of the time anyway and that we have nothing to hide, would say bring on the cameras and let’s make Polson Park safe for all concerned. However, this isn’t TV, this is real life and the possible benefits should first be weighed against privacy matters and costs associated with the plan.