North Vancouver RCMP is asking the community to register surveillance cameras on properties and businesses with the police.
This new investigative tool called Project OPTIC aims to build a community registry of homes and businesses with surveillance cameras.
“Project OPTIC capitalizes on the fact so many people currently use surveillance technology to protect their homes and businesses,” said Sgt. Peter DeVries of North Vancouver RCMP.
DeVries said North Vancouver RCMP does gather video surveillance evidence on a regular basis, but neighbourhood inquiries are laborious and time-consuming.
The community registry will help investigators find and obtain evidence quicker and more efficiently, especially where time is critical.
To add your address to the registry, simply email nv_cctv@rcmp-grc.gc.ca and provide your civic address, and specify if this is a home or a business.
If a crime is committed in a neighbourhood, police will look at the map registry to see if a community member’s surveillance cameras have captured evidence of the crime.
Police will use this evidence in their investigation and potentially provide it to court, although it is unlikely the camera owner will ever have to go to court.
Participation in this project is strictly voluntary.
The registry is only for cameras that actually record video footage that can be retrieved and replayed.
If you have any questions, please contact North Vancouver RCMP at 604-969-7484.
