MOOSE JAW — Business owners and residents with security cameras who want to support crime prevention in their areas can now join a program that the Moose Jaw Police Service (MJPS) has begun.
The agency informed the Board of Police Commissioners on Aug. 20 that it was participating in the Safe Neighbourhood Camera Registry (SNCR) and was encouraging residents to register their home or business camera. If a crime occurs in the area, the police will contact people and ask if they will share the videos.
Since residents are only registering their cameras, the police will not monitor any live video feeds, while the sharing of videos is voluntary.
Forrest Green, a Canadian software company, already supports the MJPS by providing software so residents can apply for criminal record checks online instead of coming to police headquarters, said Clive Weighill, a company spokesman.
Continuing, Weighill — a former Saskatoon police chief and former provincial chief coroner — said the registry is included in the services that Forrest Green offers, so the company will cover all the software expenses and updates. However, it will not retain any information on participants.
The spokesman noted that this program allows the police to retrieve evidence quickly and reduces the time officers search neighbourhoods for cameras after an incident. Since some security systems retain footage for only 24 hours, officers must quickly acquire that video before it erases.
The MJPS will have a map of the city that includes the locations of the registered cameras, so when a crime occurs, officers can check the map to determine if there are any nearby devices they can check, Weighill remarked. This saves time internally and externally.
Officers are going to knock on doors and search neighbourhoods for evidence when serious incidents like homicide occur, but they will be able to rely on video footage —and not have to go door-to-door — for smaller things like thefts, said Weighill.
Weyburn, Estevan, Regina and Prince Albert are already involved with SNCR, while P.A. — the first to join — and Regina are heavily promoting the program using various methods, he continued.
“People can quit and be out of the program since it’s strictly voluntary,” Weighill said. “But it’s a really good crime prevention tool.”
Added Weighill, “It is a sweet deal.”
Acting Chief Rick Johns said that a recent hit-and-run in the community forced officers to search for witnesses and evidence, including video footage from area security cameras, doorbell cameras and CCTV cameras. He noted that the SNCR program would be helpful for similar events in the future.
Continuing, he said the agency joined the initiative several months ago — its communications manager has been helping develop the public registration web page — and wanted the board and public to know officially.
“That’s awesome,” said Commissioner Kelly Baxter.
“To me, this seems like a no-brainer,” said Mayor James Murdock, the board chairman, jokingly adding that he was instantly in favour after learning that the program would be free.
After the meeting, Murdock told reporters that this initiative will give homeowners and business owners more “peace of mind” with security.
Johns told reporters that the program will launch as soon as the agency can build a suitable platform — so likely this autumn. He commended Forrest Green for being an excellent company, while Moose Jaw is not the first city — in Saskatchewan or Canada — it has supported.
“Our success will be based on the people (who) join it,” he said, adding that the MJPS will use traditional and social media to promote the program, which should attract willing and co-operative participants.
The next police board meeting is Wednesday, Sept. 17.
