Surrey councillor seeks police access to city cameras

Surrey Councillor Proposes Police Access to Traffic Cameras

Surrey city councillor Linda Annis has drafted a proposal for the local police force to access the city’s network of 500 traffic cameras to combat crime.

Annis states that current legislation allows the Surrey Police Service (SPS) to view footage from the city’s CCTV cameras only after submitting a formal request to City Hall.

“This needs to happen immediately,” Annis told 1130 NewsRadio.

“These extortion cases and gang violence have been horrific here in Surrey, and people are very afraid. We need to make sure that the police have every tool possible to help them solve these crimes,” she added.

Annis suggests that a team should monitor the cameras 24/7.

“I think everywhere we go these days, people are on camera whether they like it or not. This problem is huge in Surrey, around extortion and gang violence. We need to make sure that these cameras are used,” she said.

“There are many other cities that do have public safety cameras, Kelowna, for example.”

Annis believes that giving the SPS real-time access to surveillance footage would utilize existing technology to enhance safety in Surrey.

“By the time the police can actually get the footage, there’s a huge disconnect. The information is useless in most cases because by that time, the people have fled the scene. They may not even be in the same city,” Annis explained.

The SPS reports they are in contact with city staff to expedite the process of accessing the cameras.

“We are working with the city to try to make the process of accessing the cameras more efficient while also addressing any privacy concerns. SPS and the Surrey Police Board will also be submitting a proposal in the near future to the city to request that the city monitor the cameras overnight, which is currently not the case, so that any urgent requests can be acted on,” said SPS Staff Sgt. Lindsey Houghton in a written statement.

Backlash from Civil Rights Groups

Annis’ proposal is facing opposition from civil rights groups.

Aislin Jackson with the BC Civil Liberties Association warned that the move could compromise personal privacy.

“We really need to protect individuals’ privacy and, in particular, the privacy of information about individuals. Especially, I’m thinking of intimate partner violence contacts. It could make people very vulnerable to abuse and danger,” he told 1130 NewsRadio.

Jackson argues that the councillor’s proposal would not align with Canadian constitutional order and charter values.

“Images of people’s faces, of their vehicles, information about where they are in real time, that’s all sensitive information. And unfortunately, it’s not just the case that police are protective, but officers can also be perpetrators of crime in their own right,” he added.

Annis, who is running for mayor in this year’s civic election, is calling on the SPS and senior city management to implement the change.

The SPS declined to comment further on the proposal.

“Given she is running for Mayor of Surrey, it would not be appropriate for SPS to have input on what may be items related to her campaign,” Houghton stated.