Sunday, March 20, 2005

Surveillance cameras coming to Halifax's public places

In the wake of a number of "swarmings" on Spring Garden Road, Halifax's main shopping street, the local merchants' association is proposing to subsidise video surveillance of the entire area:

The Daily News

Crime watch

By Richard Dooley

EYES ON THE ROAD: Spring Garden Road Area Business Association manager Bernard Smith says the group has offered to subsidize outdoor night-vision surveillance cameras for merchants, to scan the streets for trouble, after a series of downtown swarmings. (Photo: DARRELL OAKE)

A series of swarming-style robberies in downtown Halifax over the last two weeks — the latest early yesterday — has convinced businesses in the area to ask for more police feet in the street and eyes in the sky. The Spring Garden Road Area Business Association is quietly telling downtown businesses it will subsidize exterior night vision surveillance cameras set up to scan the street for potential trouble.

The association is also asking for the return of beat cops to Spring Garden Road...."

So far, I haven't heard of a privacy backlash, but I expect there may be one forthcoming.

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