Irvine aims to install more surveillance cameras in public areas for enhanced security.
Enhancing Public Safety: Irvine City Council Approves Installation of Additional Security Cameras
Addressing concerns raised by residents regarding the lack of security cameras in parks and public places, the Irvine City Council has taken a proactive step towards improving public safety. During their Aug. 8 council meeting, Vice Mayor Tammy Kim, who initiated the discussion, emphasized the importance of creating a secure environment for residents to live without constant safety concerns.
“What we all want is to create a secure environment where our residents can live their lives … without the constant worry of safety,” she said during the meeting.
Resident Feedback Spurs Action
During the meeting’s public comment session, residents expressed surprise upon discovering the absence of security cameras in certain public spaces.
“About a year ago, I was at Lakeview Senior Center and my car was parked and hit by somebody who ran off … And that’s how I found out there was no cameras there,” one resident shared.
Another resident, a high school student, voiced support for the installation of additional cameras, drawing from personal experiences in Korea.
“When I lived in Korea, there used to be a lot of security cameras almost everywhere, in every store, in every street. I would feel safe walking through any street through any store even alone late at night,” he said.
Expanding Camera Coverage
The city currently has cameras installed at the Irvine Transportation Center, Great Park, and the Civic Center. These cameras are managed by the city’s police department through its information technology division, which prioritizes cybersecurity and technological advancements.
The Community Services Department is already exploring the implementation of cameras at Lakeview Senior Center and Heritage Community Park, according to city staff.
To optimize cost and efficiency, staff recommended the purchase of video analytics software for monitoring camera footage.
“It is impractical, ineffective, and costly to monitor all cameras. Video analytic technology provides the ability to quickly search a large volume of footage for a known event or object,” city staff explained during the meeting.
Ensuring Privacy and Community Support
City officials emphasized that the installation of new cameras in public spaces requires approval from the city’s chief of police. Video surveillance is limited to public areas without an expectation of privacy, with monitoring focused on public activities.
Councilman Larry Agran suggested that city staff review how other cities utilize similar cameras to address concerns about increased monitoring.
“Obviously, this raises a pretty basic question about whether we’re actually creating kind of a creeping surveillance state or municipality here, which makes people very uncomfortable,” he said.
Agran added that community support would be crucial if the monitoring proves effective in reducing crime.
“On the other hand, if cameras can be shown to really deter, or indeed, defeat criminality, by being able to apprehend and prosecute people, that’s the other side of the ledger,” he said.
Utilizing License Plate Readers
City staff highlighted the effectiveness of license plate readers in catching criminals and announced plans to increase the current count of 14 readers in operation.
These advanced cameras utilize cutting-edge image processing algorithms to read license plates and compare them with databases, aiding in the identification of suspect vehicles. Real-time information is promptly relayed to police dispatch, facilitating the apprehension of individuals involved in criminal activities.
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