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29 March 2024

Police get smart and fast with new cameras

Surveillance cameras act as silent investigator for Dubai Police. (FILE)

Published
By Mohammed Elsidafy

Dubai Police will be equipped with more smart cameras that will help the security entity to move fast in identifying and arresting suspects.

The cameras are part of a massive Dh500 million modernisation programme of security, surveillance and criminal evidences facilities being undertaken by Dubai Police.

The introduction of more smart cameras will ensure the fastest possible arrest of suspects and wanted people, said Lieutenant-General Dhahi Khalfan Tamim, Commander-in-Chief of Dubai Police.

Smart cameras can take pictures of people and send them to the operation room’s database where suspects’ pictures are saved.

The matching of pictures will be done and an alert issued in a few seconds.

Besides, they can also issue a warning about a person who has stayed or has passed by a certain place more than once, he said.

“About 160 patrols already have the smart cameras and another 120 will soon be using them, bringing the total number of police patrols using the cameras to 280. These patrols will focus on areas that are not covered by fixed cameras,” he said.

Smart cameras increase the efficiency of the police force and reduce time and effort needed to chase and follow up crimes and criminals, he said.

Besides, deploying such smart technology helps in reducing the number of staff needed to carry out tasks.

The cameras also add to the capabilities of police as the pictures can be used as criminal evidence similar to fingerprints, DNA analyses and other forensic evidences, the police chief said.

The next two years, and as per the emirate’s security plan, will witness the use of advanced security technologies and tools that will help working proactively and ensuring prevention of crime rather than chasing criminals, he added.

On the other hand, the force is using about 25,000 fixed cameras at the emirate’s different areas, including the airport, streets and shopping malls, he said.

“Key areas should be under surveillance round the clock to ensure the highest possible security. However, these cameras are also used to identify criminals as we saw in the Al Mabhooh assassination case,” said the police chief.

There are many cases at Dubai Courts where camera recordings are used as evidences, including a case where two Afghan nationals killed their girlfriend to rob her. Video recordings helped identifying the two while they were buying the knife used in the crime from a shopping mall.

Obaid Ali Obaid, a lawyer in Dubai, said camera recordings can be used in court especially when they clearly capture a criminal red handed and if there are no other evidences.

A judge at Dubai Courts, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said relying on technology-related evidences to issue sentences is subject to the judge’s evaluation since such evidences can be forged.

In order to accept such materials as evidence, the judge should - in addition to the police report - personally investigate these materials by studying how far they are authentic, clear and reliable.

The judge should also hear the opinion of experts and witnesses.

The police chief considers the surveillance cameras as an “investigator” who silently records every movement at sensitive areas and prepares an electronic file of it.

He said Dubai Police is keen to modernise its facilities and equipment needed to track and trace crimes and criminals, especially since the modus operandi of criminals continuously change.

It also needs to take into consideration the involvement of big investigation authorities in crimes.

“Crime is no longer limited to individuals or gangs. Some investigation bodies with their high technological and planning capabilities are behind many crimes around the world. We should be up to date to be able to combat sophisticated crimes,” he said.

The smart cameras, which have been used by Dubai Police since the 80s, do not violate public’s privacy or limit their movement but are rather used to ensure highest levels of security, said Dr Mohammed Murad, director of decision making at Dubai Police.

“The increasing population and the diversity of nationalities in Dubai necessitate the deployment of more cameras to ensure public safety and security. However, the recordings of the cameras are not reviewed unless there is a crime,” he said, assuring that the force is committed to ensuring both security and privacy.