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29 March 2024

Police move for mandatory cameras triggers rush

Ajman police step triggers rush for security cameras. (EB FILE)

Published
By VM Sathish

With Ajman Police making it mandatory for money exchanges, jewellers, hotels and other such commercial establishments to link their closed circuit camera systems to a police network, security service providers are reporting a surge in clients in the northern emirate.

Ajman Police recently asked commercial establishments to upgrade their closed circuit security camera networks and to uplink them with the police's Visual Verification Alarm System (VAS), so that real time security feeds are available to police at all times.

Speaking to Emirates Business, representatives of leading money exchange houses said they were in the process of upgrading their CCTV network so that the outlets could be monitored from the police headquarters. Renewal of trade licences and opening new branches in the emirate also now depend on the incorporation of this latest security system.

City Exchange LLC, a money exchange company managed by India's State Bank of Travancore, is planning to open its second branch in Ajman. K Manoharan, its Chief General Manager, said: "Now we are connected to Ajman Police through their central alarm system. Earlier, if there was anything wrong, we could alert the police and a patrol would arrive soon. With the new system, the police will be able to monitor the situation in our exchange premises from their unified centralised monitoring system."

The new requirement has led to increased sales of high-tech security equipment. Dileep Lal, CEO, InfoCare Systems, an IT and security consultant based in the Sharjah Airport Free Zone, said: "The demand for CCTV has gone up recently."

However, this is a move that costs money. For converting CCTV systems already installed, companies have to replace analogue cameras with Internet Protocol Cameras. While an analogue camera costs Dh350 to Dh650, an IP Camera will cost Dh900 to Dh2,000. "At least Dh10,000 is needed to install the latest security system for a money exchange or jewellery in Ajman," Lal said.