By TERRY PUGH
A voluntary security camera registry is being launched this month in Warman.
The registry’s aim is to facilitate police investigations by allowing officers confidential access to video and still photo evidence in the vicinity of a crime scene. Similar security camera registries are in place in Saskatoon and North Battleford.
The Warman security camera registry is spearheaded by Marshall Seed, a former leader with Warman Neighbourhood Watch and current Warman City Councillor. While the initiative has the support of both the City of Warman and the Warman RCMP detachment, Seed said it is not run by either the city or the police.
Seed added he also wants people to understand that he’s launching the initiative as a private citizen, and not as a city councillor. He said he simply wants to provide the local police detachment with additional tools to help in their investigations, and to enable them to be more efficient.
“It’s important for residents to understand that this is a completely voluntary registry,” said Seed. “It’s a community-based initiative where residents and businesses can provide police with confidential access to videos or photos if they are asked by police.”
Seed said evidence from private security cameras mounted on residential and commercial structures may prove invaluable to police.
“The RCMP have identified several times where incidents have occurred in a community and cameras have been able to successfully debunk allegations, or else offer evidence for the alleged incident,” said Seed. “I’m inviting people who have security cameras already in place to step up and help police by signing up for this camera registry.
“It’s entirely voluntary, it helps keep the community safe, and it’s an easy way to help the police do their job.”
Anyone interested in registering their security cameras is invited to contact Seed at 306-371-5327 or email warmancameraregistry@gmail.com.
Seed said when a camera is registered, its location and the direction and range of its lens is pinpointed on a map overlay of the City of Warman. The registry would be password protected and only people who have access to the site would be the Warman RCMP Staff Sergeant and the person specially designated to administer the site.
“If an incident occurs in a specific area or neighbourhood, the Staff Sergeant could open up the password-protected map and click on a pin – which would be the registered security camera closest to the area involved,” said Seed. “Clicking on the pin would show the officer the number of cameras, the approximate area or direction of video coverage, and also provide the resident’s phone number and first name as contact information. Then it would be up to the RCMP to contact the resident to see if they would be willing to share that video footage or photos for the time period under investigation.”
Seed said the homeowners and business owners who join the registry will retain final permission.
“At the end of the day, the resident has the choice of providing access or denying access,” he said.
Seed said having rapid access to video or photo evidence can save police countless hours of investigation time.
“Many people don’t understand that if there’s an incident, police officers currently will have to go out to that neighbourhood and look for cameras, and then track down the owner of the camera, knock on their door and ask permission to access that recording,” said Seed. “With the registry, the Staff Sergeant can literally do a couple clicks on a computer, and once permission is granted, access those files quickly.”
The Saskatoon Police Service launched a voluntary security camera registry in April, 2023.
The North Battleford Security Camera Registry is operated by that city’s Citizens on Patrol (COP), a voluntary organization whose goal is to help law enforcement have more ‘eyes’ on the streets.
Both the Saskatoon and North Battleford security camera registries, like the Warman Security Camera Registry, are confidential.