CAMERAS ON EVERY CORNER?

If Kelowna Mayor Walter Gray had his way, he'd put the entire downtown
core under surveillance.

Gray said Monday he'd like to have more security cameras installed
throughout the city, and dismissed criticism of the surveillance
systems as "foofaraw".

"Security cameras are now a way of life," Gray said during council's
regular meeting. "We don't apologize for the fact that we're putting
security cameras out there.

"If we can get four or five or six more of them, we will. So
there."

Law-abiding citizens routinely call city hall and say they're afraid
to venture downtown because of "intimidating" people, Gray said. He
suggested that the security cameras would reduce crime and persuade
undesirables to go elsewhere.

Gray said he didn't expect to receive many calls from people objecting
to the installation of a security camera above Kerry Park, a notorious
hangout for drug-dealers.

"People are concerned about drugs in parks. So what's the problem with
security cameras? They work (in reducing crime)," Gray said.

A surveillance camera was mounted on a pole above Kerry Park three
weeks ago. Images from the camera are transmitted to the Kelowna RCMP
detachment.

The officer watching the monitor summons the RCMP bike squad whenever
he or she suspects there's a crime in progress. Police have used the
camera to make several arrests, for offences such as drug dealing and
mischief. The surveillance images may be used in court.

The use of the surveillance camera in a public place was denounced
last week by the B.C. Civil Liberties Association, which says it
amounts to an invasion of privacy.

Association spokesman Dale Beyerstein also said installing cameras in
one area would simply cause criminals and mischief-makers to move to
other areas beyond the cameras' range.

The $15,000 camera and monitor is being loaned to the city by Vicon,
the manufacturer, on an open-ended trial basis. City council could
decide within a few weeks whether to buy one or more of the cameras.