Cameras To Monitor
Crime Activity Across Costa Rica
Smile, you are on camera. No, not Candid
Camera like the hidden camera television
series created and produced by Allen Funt
and seen on American television in the
1960's, but rather a network of hundreds of
cameras that will be installed by the
ministerio de Seguridad Pública across the
country, as a means to cutting crime.
The cameras will be placed in strategic
locations in San José, Alajuela, Heredia and
Limón and will be monitored 24 hours a day,
seven days a week, by a group of 60 police
officials.
A total of 342 cameras with "intelligent
video" will be the eyes of the Fuerza
Pública.
The Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad
(ICE) is partnering with the Ministerio de
Seguridad Pública in the us$9 million dollar
project.
Pedro Pablo Quirós, president of ICE, along
with Costa Rican president, Oscar Arias, the
ministra de Seguridad Pública, Janina del
Vecchio and the ministro de la Presidencia,
Rodrigo Arias, announced the plan at Casa
Presidencial on Wednesday.
Quirós explained that the video feed from
182 points in the four provinces will be
sent by way of ICE's telecommunications
network to the Fuerza Pública operations
control centre.
The cameras will be placed in locations like
rotondas, highways, buildings, in
neighbourhoods with high incidents of
crimes.
The program is not new, it is a result of
research of use in places like Colombia and
England and according to Costa Rican
officials, it is a very important way to
fight crime.
The system, in addition to allowing police
to keep an eye on things, will also be used
to gather evidence to be used in court
against criminals.
The video information from the cameras will
be stored for 30 days to allow judicial
authorities time to obtain the material for
their investigation in criminal cases.
Janina Del Vecchio said that the
installation of the system and the training
of the officers is expected to begin in
August.
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