North Dumfries council approves CCTV camera plan to address rising crime

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Should closed circuit cameras be put up in North Dumfries?

North Dumfries township agrees to CCTV partnership with police

North Dumfries councillors have approved a proposal from the Waterloo Regional Police Service to install closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras in part of the township, as officials look to address ongoing concerns about theft and property crime.

The cameras would be installed along Northumberland Street and Alps Road. The footage would be used during investigations, including searching for licence plates that may be used be used by criminals. However, police said the cameras would not be used for speed enforcement, would not be monitored live and could not be accessed by all police members.

They say all unused footage would be deleted after 30 days.

“I think we need that type of policing here,” Township of North Dumfries Mayor Sue Foxton said. “They can’t afford to keep officers here when there’s guns and battles and everything else, and jewelry break-ins and everything else. But this is a – we call it in, they go right to the thing.”

Police said the 401 running directly through the township makes it a unique target, and crime within the community is growing.

Foxton said she’s not sure if the public will support the idea, but she believes local businesses do.

“Without dealing with this, we’re going to lose the businesses and that means more job loss. We don’t want to lose them. These business owners are our people,” Foxton said.

Some businesses owners have reportedly told Foxton that even with 24-hour security services, they are experiencing more break-and-enters and thefts.

“Even when these businesses upgraded and spent a fortune on greater security and fencing and brickwork and everything, [thefts] are still happening. We need to do better.”

A snowplow was stolen in North Dumfries last month and multiple transport trucks and trailers have been taken since December.

“If you put it all together, I think we lost over $1 million worth of equipment from businesses around here,” Foxton said.

North Dumfries council will hear the police service’s CCTV proposal on Monday night.

Foxton said one feature she wants to see disabled is the CCTV system’s facial recognition abilities.

Cameras in other jurisdictions

CCTV programs are already in Guelph, Barrie, Greater Sudbury, Sault Ste Marie, Niagara Region, London, Peterborough, Toronto, Chatham-Kent, Durham Region, Peel Region and York Region.

Kitchener’s Finance and Corporate Services Committee has recommended a one-year pilot program for cameras on King Street and along Fairway Road by Fairview Park Mall.

The City of Waterloo has signed a memorandum of understanding with police but aren’t involved in installation. Instead, police can place cameras on city infrastructure as needed in Waterloo, and officers will decide the locations according to their crime statistics.

Wellesley council is generally supportive of installing cameras and will discuss it at an upcoming meeting.

Wilmot council voted to postpone the program indefinitely.

Meanwhile Woolwich council has not discussed the program yet, and Cambridge council is still deliberating.