Camera registry allows residents to take active role in keeping community safe
Business owners and residents are encouraged to take a proactive role in keeping their neighbourhoods safe by registering their private surveillance cameras.
Security Cameras Assisting Neighbours in Guelph, or SCANinGuelph, is a security camera registry that allows owners of commercial and residential properties to register the location(s) of their surveillance camera(s) and to consider providing Guelph Police Service officers access to the recordings on a case-by-case basis.
Approximately 150 business owners and residents have registered for the program since it was launched two years ago.
The goal of the SCANinGuelph registry is to reduce crime and promote community safety through the active participation of community members and business owners. Currently Guelph Police Service officers go door to door to canvass for video when investigating stolen vehicles, break and enters, assaults and other serious crimes.
With the SCANinGuelph registry, camera owners can simply fill out a registration form on the GPS website indicating the location of their camera(s) along with their contact information. This information is then uploaded to an internal police database allowing officers conducting investigations to know the locations of cameras in a given area.
The owners of the cameras can then be contacted by the investigating officers. It is important to note that registering a camera does not give police access to it or the opportunity to monitor it. Rather, it simply identifies the location of a camera.
For more information about SCANinGuelph, or to register your business or home camera, please visit SCANinGuelph Camera Registry - Guelph Police.