Halifax Police Cameras

I'm not sure how I feel about the news release that the Halifax Regional Police plan to install more cameras in specific "hotspots" to capture wrongdoers committing crimes.

While I can understand the value of cameras watching the action, and capturing what might be evidence for the prosecutors to use in court, and the importance of that to the prosecutors, I cannot help but feel this is too much "big brother" stuff for me.

The story in the Chronicle Herald says Police Chief Beazley announced the plan of "using portable digital equipment in the near future to record images at "hot spots" in the municipality and public gatherings like rock concerts."

Mayor Kelly, always a fan of the camera, (even tried hosting an interview show on the local cable channel) said he supports secret camera use. According to the Mayor, cameras are already tracking the public here and in other cities. While that maybe true, that doesn't make it right. The Mayor says law-abiding citizens have nothing to fear....

I dunno about you, but I think our society is gradually becoming one of cameras and tracking. These days they take your picture at the gas station, the bank, the Motor Vehicle office, many business offices, the corner store and at some intersections.

There is a subtle difference between those cameras and what the police are talking about, and that...is what bothers me. In the above examples, with the exception of the cameras at intersections, the cameras are not in the hands of the police until after a crime has been committed. In the new plan, there is nothing to stop the police from rolling the cameras long before a crime is committed, even if a crime isn't committed. However, the police will have you or yours on video. This could be used for 'profiling' or building a file on you whether you need one or not.

I guess I can avoid a gas station or a corner store if need be, but what about a public place, like a concert. I don't want the police taking my picture, even if I am not doing anything illegal. I just don't like the idea. For all intents and purposes, the tapes in stores and gas stations and the like are usually taped over after a certain period of time, and not used for anything unless a crime occurs. The police, on the other hand could single the person out. This to me is not unlike phone tapping, which as far as I know, requires a warrant from a judge. Taking your picture at a public gathering doesn't. If for some reason I don't want my picture taken at a rock concert, I can ask the photog not to take my picture, chances are, they will oblige, the police, on the other hand, will be under no obligation to stop, in fact, it may make them want to take more pictures.

I think we need to start telling our civic leaders, councillors and Mayor, that we aren't in favor of police attending public events to take pictures of the citizens of this city.

Instead of capturing pictures of rock concerts, why don't the police use the expensive digital cameras money to hire some additional detectives and try to solve some of the unsolved murders in this city? The last time I counted, the number of major unsolved crimes in Nova Scotia, mostly homicides, was over 50...some going back several years. Is this proving that in Nova Scotia you can get away with murder.....?

Your thoughts?