Cambridge pilot project has security cameras in Galt core

CAMBRIDGE — Security cameras will soon appear in parts of downtown Galt as part of a new pilot project in Cambridge.

It was pitched as part of the city’s downtown revitalization but it’s also an opportunity to curb possible crime in the city core.

“There were serious issues in the downtown area and a lot of it was drug-related,” Coun. Jan Liggett said.

Liggett is the ward councillor for downtown Galt and often hears complaints from area residents and business owners about safety and security.

“Those cameras will be able to help, it’s sort of pre-emptive,” Liggett said.

The cameras will not be monitored all the time. The idea is that the video footage will be available if a crime occurs that requires further investigation, she said.

Waterloo Regional Police will be able to request footage relating to a specific incident.

“That way we will be able to see exactly what happened,” Liggett said.

The pilot project will cost $200,000 and it was already approved by council as part of this year’s budget talks. It’s a project that has been tested in London, Sudbury and Hamilton, according to a staff report.

At a Tuesday committee meeting, councillors gave city staff the green light to start work with the contractor obtained for the job.

The city is looking at installing between five and 10 cameras throughout the downtown core as well as signs to let people know they are in an area that may be recorded.

Staff said the location of each camera will be determined after consulting with Waterloo Regional Police and the Downtown Cambridge Business Improvement Association.

Liggett said she had hoped the city would have gone through a public consultation process before moving ahead with the project, but she supports the project knowing footage will not be monitored 24/7 and only if the need arises.

The cameras will be installed sometime this year.

Staff plans to locate the main infrastructure of the security system at city hall.

According to a staff report, the new camera system will add to the existing bike and foot patrol program in downtown Galt during the summer.

Hespeler and Preston also have a patrol program during the summer months to provide safety and security in the downtown cores.

If the pilot project goes well and if budget allows, the city will look to add security cameras to Preston and Hespeler, too. That will most likely happen between 2018 and 2019.