Representative image“Authorities often fail to repair damaged cameras on time. Hence, police are forced to approach private parties for getting CCTV footage. Also, the footage collected from private cameras would never be as good as those installed solely for policing,” said the DCP.
“Quality of footage is a key factor. Even if we could collect footage from a private camera, the video would be of no use if features such as face of people or number plates of vehicles are not visible. Hence, we are pushing for a systematic project that can bring the city under surveillance,” said the DCP.
Many police stations have collaborated with residents’ associations to install CCTV cameras in its respective localities.
Thrikkakara sub-inspector Shaju A N, who was one of the first police officers to collaborate with residents’ association for surveillance, said the cameras got installed but it never became a success.
“Though cameras were installed, my aim was to get a control centre operating from police station itself. However, this became a costly affair as a centre could cost up to Rs 10 lakh,” he said.
