Coming this April, you'll be on caught on a York Regional Police camera at 10 intersections across the region, including at Yonge and Davis in Newmarket, and at Yonge and Wellington in Aurora.
York Regional Police is launching the closed-circuit television (CCTV) community camera program to support crime prevention, improve investigative capabilities and enhance community safety, according to a news release.
Here's a list of locations where CCTV community cameras will be installed:
- Yonge Street/Davis Drive, Newmarket
- Yonge Street/Wellington Street, Aurora
- Yonge Street/Crosby Avenue, Richmond Hill
- Yonge Street/Carrville Road, Richmond Hill
- Warden Avenue/Highway 7, Markham
- Woodbine Avenue/Highway 7, Markham
- Warden Avenue/Steeles Avenue, Markham
- Jane Street/Highway 7, Vaughan
- Jane Street/Norwood Avenue, Vaughan
- Jane Street/Avro Road, Vaughan
Signs at the locations, which were selected using a "data-driven approach" to enhance public safety and assist in investigations, will identify that the areas may be monitored by CCTV community cameras.
Police will passively monitor the cameras, and will not be watching them in real time. Rather, video will be captured and recorded as an additional investigative tool if criminal activity is reported in the area. Footage will only be retained for 72 hours unless it is needed for an investigative purpose, police added.
The cameras will only monitor areas to which the public already has access and camera views are restricted from recording private dwelling spaces.
The CCTV cameras will not result in a reduced police presence, and 911 should continue to be called in an emergency, police said.
"CCTV monitoring will be conducted in a professional, ethical and legal manner in accordance with the Ontario Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, the Human Rights Code and in compliance with the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario guidelines," police stated.
During the next 30 days, YRP officers will be engaging with community members who reside and operate businesses within the vicinity of the selected intersections and will be available to answer any questions. Funding of this project includes a grant from the provincial government.
“York Regional Police continues to use advances in technology to keep our communities safe,” said Chief Jim MacSween. “We’ve witnessed the successes other communities in Ontario have seen through use of CCTV cameras and we’re excited to launch this crime prevention tool here in York Region.”
For more information, visit yrp.ca/cctv. Comments and input is welcome at [email protected].
