Cochrane RCMP start community camera surveillance program

Cochrane RCMP have launched a new program and are looking for support from the community.

It's a new voluntary surveillance program called CAPTURE. 

CAPTURE is an acronym for Community Assisted Policing Through Use of Recorded Evidence.

Cst. Clayton Gelinas says the program adds another layer to community safety.

"If someone has registered and there is a crime that happened in that area, we will know then that there is some camera footage in the area and we can go and knock on their door and see if there is anything of evidentiary value to us." 

Cochranites can register their home security cameras and grant access to the RCMP. Police will create a map indicating the locations of these cameras within the community, ensuring swift access when required.

The program is free to join, and all video and photo footage still belongs to the citizen and will only be shared with RCMP on a voluntary basis.

"We are not able to log into their cameras and then have a live feed or anything of that sort, so we don't have access to their cameras at all. As far as privacy concerns, they don't need to worry about that, If we've requested it and they want to give it to us, they can." 

The database will be kept confidential and will only be accessible by the RCMP.

Residents can register for the program HERE.