Strategy Tackles Gangs, Business Security

Elodio Aragon Jr.

According to Aragon Jr., the addition of the cameras also forms part of a new crime fighting strategy. 

Elodio Aragon Jr., Minister of State, Police

“It’s all about looking at how we incorporate technology into law enforcement activities, you know.  This is one way how we will enhance our capabilities in terms of looking at what’s happening on the ground.  Cameras have been used for many, many years, you know.  We had a set of cameras and they were not to what we have now, you know.  I think you could clearly see a difference between night and day.  Technology has always evolved and we have to evolve with technology and therefore, having these cameras will give us a greater capability in law enforcement activity and I will tell you this right now, part of our crime fighting strategy that you mentioned about, we are working on that.  A part of that has to do with the anti-gang legislation that is being formulated right now.  It’s already been formulated but we need to first do a number of liaison in terms of the DPP’s Office, the Chief Justice, the Chief Magistrate and others because when we present this there’s not a lot of resistance in terms of it.  Apart from that, of course cameras is a part of it, the government has approved sixty thousand dollars more in terms of assisting private businesses and individuals who are interested in setting up a good camera system in their business or in their homes within the city.  That’s a pilot project that has been approved already.  Definitely we are partnering again with Champion on that to ensure that we can get that out there.  These are part of the things that we have to develop on and work with and technology is a part of it.”

The surveillance cameras are being monitored from a central location at the Eastern Division South Headquarters on Raccoon Street.