The eye's have it.
Barrie police say they are working with the City of Barrie to access its traffic management camera system as a resource for police investigations and active emergencies.
Police Chief Rich Johnston says city police have had a CCTV (closed-circuit television) program since 2012, mostly in the downtown area.
Adding the city's traffic camera system is about public safety, according to Johnston, and that goes beyond the downtown.
"We're a growing city and we have traffic issues, and those cameras are already in place, but we have other issues that I think as a public safety service it is our responsibility to do as much as possible."
Johnston cites examples as a missing child or other vulnerable persons.
"There is an expectation placed on the police, as there should be, that we're going to be using as much or as many resources and doing as much as possible to bring that person home safely," he said.
Police will be hosting a community open house on Mar. 18 so the public can learn more about safety measures and procedures in place to protect privacy, as well as the "limited circumstances" when camera footage may be accessed, according to a police news release.
Johnston says the Privacy Commissioner of Ontario has very detailed expectations of anyone looking to do things like that. He noted the police service had a privacy impact assessment completed to ensure that any privacy concerns related to the change in access were acknowledged and addressed.
"There's 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 audit those audits. It is incredibly restrictive in terms of access."
Accessing traffic camera footage, the Chief says, will be limited to a select few in the police service.
"Having said that, and I will be crystal clear and unapologetic about this, but if we have a natural disaster or emergency situation, we are going to flash up those cameras live if we have to."
Johnston suggested the same situation would apply if a child goes missing.
"I would hope our community expects the police to look at those cameras as opposed to not, and then trying to find a child where we could have looked a those cameras to assist us."
Although the traffic cameras exist, Johnston is not dismissive of people who have privacy concerns, especially with an extra layer like the police that could have access to them.
"Let me be crystal clear - they will not be monitored 24/7 by us. It is recorded, but it's held for 20 days and if it is accessed within those 20 days it has to have an incident number attached. It's within an audit log who did it, when they're accessing it, and why they accessed it. There is a long list of requirements that have to be met, but it is not being accessed regularly. After those 20 days, it gets dumped and all that data is removed. It's none of our business for the most part."
The data will be held if it is needed for evidence.
"We have to be very cautious, and we do recognize that. People are entitled to their privacy and we're trying to balance public safety with privacy."
Johnston says the police service will host a map so the public can see which cameras are operated by the city and which are Barrie police cameras.
"We are going to be as transparent as possible, but still deliver public safety."
The open house is at Barrie Police Headquarters from 6:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m., with a brief formal presentation at 7 p.m.
The police chief will attend the meeting as well as IT manager TJ Medlyn and freedom of information co-ordinator Jessica Brown.
Police said the open house will provide an opportunity for public feedback and for policing officials to share information on:
- Current camera locations
- Purpose of camera systems
- Law enforcement usage protocols
- Privacy protection measures
Fore more information, email info@barriepolice.ca.
