In a significant development that may limit public access to footage from government-installed CCTV cameras, Delhi Police Commissioner Satish Golchha has reportedly instructed one of his Special Commissioners of Police to draft a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Public Works Department (PWD). This agreement aims to ensure that access to camera \u201cpasswords will no longer be available to the general public.\u201d<\/p>\n
The previous government led by the Aam Aadmi Party initiated the installation of CCTV cameras throughout the city, completing the project in two phases with a total of 140,000 cameras. These cameras are primarily installed by the PWD in various locations, including roads, significant public areas, government buildings, and underpasses.<\/p>\n
Currently, many residents and Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) possess passwords for viewing feeds from numerous CCTV cameras, enabling them to independently access footage in instances of theft, missing children, or other minor crimes to share with law enforcement, according to a senior police official.<\/p>\n
However, the PWD is preparing to transfer the management of these camera feeds to the Delhi Police. During a recent meeting focused on crime review, Golchha emphasized the need for district Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCPs) to compile a comprehensive list of all CCTV cameras in their respective districts. A standardized form for this purpose will be distributed shortly. He also instructed the Special Commissioner (Technical & Public Infrastructure) to finalize the MoU with PWD representatives, ensuring that public access to CCTV passwords is eliminated.<\/p>\n
Under the proposed plan, only police personnel will hold the passwords and access to footage from PWD-operated CCTV cameras located in key public areas throughout Delhi. As a result, residents and RWAs who previously had direct access will now need to approach local police stations for assistance.<\/p>\n
The district DCPs have been assigned the responsibility of cataloging all cameras in their jurisdictions to maximize their utility for law enforcement. Additionally, the management of the control room will transition to police oversight, enhancing monitoring efficiency.<\/p>\n
Another police official noted that this new framework will enable the police to prevent sensitive footage related to serious crimes from circulating on social media, which can often lead to public outrage and scrutiny of police activities.<\/p>\n
Since 2020, the extensive network of PWD-managed CCTV cameras has supported the Delhi Police in resolving over 10,000 cases. According to government records, the PWD has provided the police with 12,000 instances of CCTV footage. Furthermore, the PWD and Bharat Electronics Limited, the contractor responsible for the installation and maintenance of these cameras, have addressed more than 10,000 court summons.<\/p>\n
A request for comment has been sent to the Delhi Police spokesperson, and a response is pending.<\/p>\n
Recently, footage of crimes occurring in the capital has frequently surfaced on social media. Former Delhi Police Commissioner Sanjay Arora expressed discontent with the viral nature of such footage, issuing directives to district DCPs and unit heads to prevent unauthorized sharing. He cautioned that any breaches would hold officers accountable for lapses in supervision.<\/p>\n
Mahender Singh Manral serves as an Assistant Editor at the national bureau of The Indian Express, recognized for his impactful reporting. His coverage areas include the Ministry of Home Affairs, investigative agencies, and law enforcement entities. Previously, he reported extensively on city crime and the Delhi government’s anti-corruption branch while also working with Mail Today and The Pioneer.<\/p>\n
With a background in Mass Communication, Manral is committed to uncovering stories that resonate with the public and make a difference in their lives.<\/p>\n
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In a significant development that may limit public access to footage from government-installed CCTV cameras, Delhi Police Commissioner Satish Golchha has reportedly instructed one of his Special Commissioners of Police to draft a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Public Works Department (PWD). This agreement aims to ensure that access to camera \u201cpasswords will no […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":9014,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[78,498,40],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9016","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-in-cities","category-in-delhi","category-india"],"yoast_head":"\n