The Manitoulin Ontario Provincial Police has implemented the CAMSafe program in Espanola and throughout the Manitoulin Island.
Constable Jessica Gilbertson says CAMSafe is a program aimed at creating a database of residential and commercial security cameras within a community that may act as a resource for police when investigating offences/crime.
She explains when a police officer uses the CAMSafe database they will see a map of the local area and can click on registered addresses to view further details, such as property owner contact information.
She stresses officers cannot access anyone’s security cameras or cloud-based accounts and if police wish to examine camera footage, they can ask a property owner for permission.
Gilbertson adds anyone needing further information, can visit their website.
Interested community members are only required to provide basic contact information and camera location, but can include more details if desired, such as direction the camera faces, footage retention details or screenshots of the camera view.
Registrants can only view their own information and can delete their account or change their information at any time.
To learn more about the CAMSafe program and to register security cameras please visit https://camsafe.ca/.