Nairobi to adopt Video Surveillance to curb Crime

BY JAMES RATEMO in Nairobi
Across major cities in the world, significant closed circuit television (CCTV) presence has been known to curb criminal behavior and assist the authorities in collecting evidence and prosecuting crimes. Nairobi has been lagging behind but not any more.

With increasing spate of crime in Nairobi, stakeholders are now turning to (CCTV) technology to curb the vice.
Plans are afoot to install 20,000 such cameras on major roads, streets and buildings and light up the city to ensure would be muggers, robbers, thieves and traffic offenders do not get away scot-free.
The cameras will be wired to a central location where police will be on the watch round the clock.
To ensure sustainability of the initiative, the company installing the cameras will train enough police personnel on how to operate and maintain the system.
The technology plays a significant role in ensuring the security and safety of citizens and has proven to be a very successful crime deterrent across the world.
Video surveillance deters
“Video surveillance is more about deterrence than it is about evidence collection. Red light cameras do catch drivers in the act, but their role is much more about making drivers think twice before running a red light,” says Andy Thompson, a security camera tutor.

Video is also a useful tool for law enforcement agencies, but it must be noted that CCTV recordings cannot make use of audio information.

If sound is recorded along with the video, the recording is then considered a wiretap and in most cases this can be expensive.

In most countries, audio recording falls under rules, which may require a warrant.

This is why police often make use of lip readers when trying to decipher the contents of surveillance video.



In a quick survey by Tech.Insight, most Nairobians are convinced of the effectiveness of video surveillance and may even feel a certain amount of comfort in knowing that it adds to their sense of personal safety.
Feeling safe
They understand that their chances of being a victim of crime are reduced when they find themselves in an area monitored with CCTV cameras.

CCTVs are aimed at recording events to be played back only in the event of a crime. Because of the considerable storage requirements needed to save video, most footage is only kept for short periods of time.

Even though the Government will be launching a program through the Ministry of Nairobi Metropolitan for CCTV coverage in Nairobi, this will not be sufficient and will only cover the Central Business District and major streets.

Nairobi Town Clerk, Philip Kisia, urged tenants and homeowners in city estates to jointly pool resources and install CCTVs as recent spell of criminal activities have been happening in the estates.

“We are now asking all business owners that in addition to the central core system being installed by Government, we install at least two CCTVs on our premises that can record and store at least one month’s footage, ” said Timothy Muriuki, Chairman NCBDA.
Private premises
This is expected to combat crime in front of premises since police would be using the footage to apprehend criminals. Premise owners would also be expected to light up buildings for the cameras to capture clear pictures.

There are currently no cameras connected to a central location for co-ordinated tracking of movement in the city, a situation that makes crime fighting in the city a nightmare.

In major cities like Dubai, Berlin and London and New York, CCTVs are a common feature and tracking down traffic offenders and other city criminals not a big deal.
The new cameras will be especially keen to make zooming and focusing easier so that operators could more effectively track suspects.

Without cameras, simple crimes like muggings, pick pocketing to the more daring carjackings, bank break-ins often go unabated.
It has been tried elsewhere: when people don't know cameras are looking, they act with a lot of impunity. With cameras on, research has found this to be more of a deterrent.

According to government spokesman, Dr Alfred, installation of CCTVs in a well-lit and manicured city will go along way to reclaim Nairobi’s image.


“What we are launching is a pilot program that will be rolled out to the rest of the city roads such as Jogoo road, Ngong road, Langata road, Waiyaki way and all other major roads in the city. This will later be adopted by other cities in the country,” said Mutua, who is chairing an inter-ministerial committee on implementation of Nairobi’s image building program.

 “To supplement what the Government is doing and to deter crime, we are requesting that all Kenyans and especially Nairobians install CCTV cameras on their buildings or Estate Gates and streets so as to record criminal activities then recordings can be availed to police and media to identify and track criminals,” he said.

The beautification program is utilizing Kazi kwa Vijana program and the normal resources and staff already working for Government in the City Council and other Ministries. Therefore, there are no special monies set aside for the work.

Utilizing available resources

“What we are doing is utilizing available resources well. New laws will be gazetted to ensure building owners and home owners comply to this city planning initiative,” Mutua said.

Security without properly numbered streets and buildings hampers tracking of criminals. It makes it difficult for people to report crime or visitors to find their way around the city streets and buildings.

The building numbering system is one where Nairobi has lagged behind in comparison with other major cities of the world. Last week, the Nairobi beautification committee launched a continuous program of numbering all buildings in the Nairobi Central Business District, Industrial Area, Upper Hill, Community, Hurlinghan and Westlands area. 



The program, through the city-planning department, will be rolled out to the rest of the city. 
Apart from helping in directions street numbering will assist in synchronization with GPS, response to emergency calls and postal services.