Vancouver city council has voted down a controversial proposal that would have seen CCTV cameras installed in public spaces to address concerns around crime. Only Non-Partisan Association (NPA) Coun. Melissa De Genova, who introduced the motion, voted in favour of it.
Her proposal came with public safety shaping up to be an election issue in October’s municipal vote, and as Vancouver police say the city is seeing about four random assaults per day.
“I’m hearing from people… especially women and young families, I’m hearing from employees that work in retail that have to walk in the evenings to transit, I’m hearing from young families who live in condominiums and apartments especially downtown and they rely on parks and community centers as their living rooms and their backyards, that they don’t feel safe,” De Genova told Global News.
“I think we have to do what we can to decrease violent crime in the city. I’m not saying CCTV cameras will fix it all, but I think it’s a step in the right direction, another tool in the toolbox.”
De Genova’s motion cited the use of CCTV cameras and facial recognition software in cities like New York and London, arguing that police already make use of footage from privately-owned security cameras to solve crimes. “Canadians are entitled to a reasonable amount of privacy and without a warrant this would be invalid,” said Green Coun. Pete Fry.
“(I’m) hearing significant concerns about the way CCTV further criminalizes poverty and people already experiencing various forms of marginalization, and there’s certainly studies out there that back up those concerns,” One City Coun. Christine Boyle said.
