Topic of installing CCTV cameras in streets & public places resurfaces
KUWAIT CITY, Oct 13: As part of its multi-pronged strategy to control public security, deter criminals and put an end to crimes and accidents, a law was passed by the government and presented to the National Assembly and approved in 2015, regarding the installation of hundreds of cameras in the streets and public places, reports Al-Qabas daily.
At the time, it was said this would lead to an infringement of privacy in a conservative society, while it was supported by many who saw it as an advanced step and an important tool for fighting crime.
The topic of “street cameras” has resurfaced and with it the same controversy after talking about a number of cooperative societies, in cooperation with the Ministry of Interior, installing cameras in four areas -the suburb of Abdullah Al-Salem, Shamiya, Yarmouk and Qadisiya.
Some people, who considered installing cameras in this way as an “infringement on freedoms”, revolted, while others asserted that the horrific crimes in Kuwait claimed innocent victims, call for diversifying mechanisms to enhance security and expand the circles of “collective effort” to achieve this, stressing that the fight against crime requires a collective effort that is not limited to the security services only.
Al-Qabas gathered the opinions of former and current legal and leaders in the boards of directors of cooperative societies, about the initiative to install cameras and its importance and financing? What characteristics and functions does it perform? What if it constitutes an infringement on people’s freedoms?
A security source confirmed that the purpose of installing surveillance cameras in the main and secondary streets is to maintain security and combat widespread crimes, and not for the purpose of spying.
The source said that these cameras are under the supervision of the security authorities and are linked to the Operations Room of the Ministry of Interior and are also used in judicial departments as criminal evidence that helps in imposing the correct judgment and identifying criminals.
The source added that its installation was based on a cooperation protocol between the Ministry of Interior and the Union of Cooperative Societies, to monitor the streets with the aim of reducing crime rates.
The source pointed out those cameras “protect people and preserve their rights during accidents, thefts and crimes, and have been in place in developed countries for a long time.”
The camera features and functions such as monitoring entrances and exits to residential areas, connecting residential areas to the “Interior Ministry Operations” system, monitoring all secondary electricity substations, high accuracy of license plate reading features, monitoring crimes to protect people and preserve their rights and provides forensic evidence in identifying criminals.