Police cameras irk activist

By DAVENE JEFFREY
The Chronicle Herald
Nov. 16, 2006

Focusing cop cameras on Halifax’s known trouble spots is not likely to dramatically decrease crime, but it will cut into every individual’s right to privacy, says one resident.

Following the recent stabbing death of an American sailor outside a downtown bar, police announced they are adding surveillance cameras to their arsenal of crime-fighting equipment.

John van Gurp has made a hobby of noting where surveillance cameras are located around his city.

"I started noticing cameras appearing about three or four years ago, especially on Spring Garden Road," said the federal civil servant.

According to Mr. van Gurp’s information, many of the downtown hot spots already have cameras in place.

"Businesses decide where they want their cameras for probably security and protection of their own staff and customers," said Sgt. David Reynolds, Halifax police watch commander for Monday’s day shift.

Having their own cameras allows the department to focus their lenses on known trouble spots, Sgt. Reynolds said.

In the past, he has been involved in several investigations that involved getting videos or photographs from private security cameras. He said he’s never been in a situation where he’s been refused access to those images.

But the convenience of acquiring those images has been a problem and sometimes the picture quality has not been good.

"Based on some of the things I’ve seen out there in private industry in the past, our (security cameras) are certainly rated a step or two above theirs," the sergeant said.

While Mr. van Gurp acknowledges there are legitimate crime concerns in the downtown, resources other than cameras should be considered, he said.

"I don’t think installing police cameras or monitors downtown is the answer. I think there are probably other ways and better ways to resolve the issues that don’t erode public rights to privacy in public areas," he said.

"I see it as a bit of a slippery slope."

Petty Officer 1st Class Damon Crooks was murdered on a sidewalk in front of the Rain nightclub on Argyle Street in the wee hours of Nov. 4.

Late-night violence has been a concern over the past few years with the apparent increasing frequency of swarmings, particularly in the vicinity of Spring Garden Road and the area of Blowers and Grafton streets known as Pizza Corner.

Following a meeting on violence that Mayor Peter Kelly called days after the death of Petty Officer 1st Class Crooks, the police department announced it had placed cameras in the downtown’s busy bar area.

The police cameras can be monitored from the police station, but as yet, no one has been tasked with watching them day in and day out, Sgt. Reynolds said.

The province’s Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Review Office has written video surveillance guidelines meant for police to use as a reference.

According to the guidelines, the use of data collected from such cameras should be restricted, its disclosure controlled, its retention limited and its destruction assured.

The guidelines also recommend a written policy be developed for the use of such recordings and should identify a person accountable for privacy compliance and privacy rights associated with the system.