Police to set up more cameras in hawker centres and other public areas

SINGAPORE — The Singapore Police Force has completed the installation of more than 62,000 police cameras in all 10,000 Housing and Development Board blocks and multi-storey car parks (MSCP) under the PolCam 1.0 roll-out plan, which started in April 2012.

As of May, 2,300 video clips from the cameras provided useful leads to help the police solve more than 1,100 cases, including unlicensed moneylending, theft and outrage of modesty.

The police is now expanding its programme with PolCam 2.0, which is the installation of cameras to public areas in town centres, neighbourhood centres, hawker centres and link-ways leading to transportation nodes such as MRT stations and bus interchanges.

The first cameras under PolCam 2.0 were installed last month at Ang Mo Kio Town Centre, Bedok Town Centre and Jurong Gateway. About 11,000 more cameras will be progressively installed over the next few years at 2,500 locations island-wide.

The Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations) Lau Peet Meng said the police cameras at the public housing blocks and MSCPs have helped to keep homes and neighbourhoods safe and secure.

“The expansion of police cameras to other public areas in the neighbourhood and town centres will further strengthen the Police’s ability to deter, detect and solve crimes,” added DCP Lau.

“We will continue to leverage technology as part of our crime-fighting and counter terrorism strategies to ensure a safe and secure home for everyone.”