HOME Affairs Minister Clement Rohee said yesterday that the installation of closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras at strategic points in the capital city will allow law enforcement agencies to execute their duties more effectively.

He said, “We all know that nowadays the criminals choice of cars are Toyota Carina AT192 and 212, and motorcycles to make fast getaways, and they have to travel through main and secondary roads in the city.”
“In other countries the CCTV has proven to be very effective, and we have to up the ante and it will go a far way in assisting us in tracking those who engage in criminal activities in the city,” he continued.
The government began installing these cameras in the city last month, in keeping with its plan to boost intelligence gathering to combat and deter crime. Cameras have already been installed at Homestretch and Mandela Avenues; D’Urban Street and Mandela Avenue; Rahaman’s Turn, Houston; Vlissengen Road and Eping Avenue; and at the junction of Sheriff Street and Rupert Craig Highway.
This project is expected to be completed by next month.
The headquarters for the monitoring and storage of the footage gathered from the cameras will be situated in the National Intelligence Centre. The tower and transmission lines will connect the headquarters to other monitoring stations as well, so that the footage can be easily accessible in the prevention of a crime or prosecution.
Meanwhile, business men are happy that the cameras are being installed, since they will help in capturing persons who rob their businesses.
Government had allocated $15M in the 2011 National Budget to purchase the equipment, and recently passed a supplementary provision of $11M for the same purpose.