The Barrie Police Service (BPS) has access to the city's traffic management camera system as a resource for investigations and active emergencies.
There are 15 cameras currently located throughout Barrie, equipped with capabilities that allow city staff to monitor traffic flow and support coordinated responses during incidents, the city said in a news release on Tuesday.
The cameras provide encrypted video feeds that can be securely accessed by Barrie police when managing active situations or responding to emergencies.
"These cameras are another example of how Barrie is putting public safety first," Mayor Alex Nuttall stated in the news release. "By working together with Barrie police, we're using technology to help fight crime, keep our streets safe, and respond faster when incidents happen. This collaboration reflects our shared commitment to building a safer, stronger community for everyone in Barrie."
The city noted that the cameras are not used for automated red light or speed enforcement, and no automated tickets are issued through the system.
Police held an open house in March for the public to learn more about how the BPS would utilize the cameras, and the retention and access restrictions in place.
In a March interview with Barrie 360, Police Chief Rich Johnston explained that police have had a CCTV (closed-circuit television) program since 2012, mostly in the downtown area.
He stated that adding the city's traffic camera system was about public safety, which goes beyond the downtown area.
Johnston explained in the interview that there are safety measures and procedures in place to access camera footage so as to protect privacy, and those expectations are laid out by the Privacy Commissioner of Ontario.
"There is a long list of requirements for the city police to maintain standards that will be audited yearly on a number of things in terms of access, who can access it, when they can access it, and the checking of those logs. Every three years, an outside body comes in to do an audit. It is incredibly restrictive in terms of access," the Chief explained at the time.
Johnston also stated that accessing traffic camera footage would be limited to a select few in the police service.
"If we have a natural disaster or emergency situation, we are going to flash up those cameras live if we have to," he said.
More information: https://www.barriepolice.ca/safety/cctv-cameras/
