New camera system keeping an eye on Downtown, Le Village

A new closed-circuit television camera system has been set up by city police in the Downtown and Le Village areas of Cornwall.

PHOTO CREDIT - OurHometown.ca

Cornwall - Apr. 22, 2011 - A new closed-circuit television camera system has been set up by city police in the Downtown and Le Village areas of Cornwall.

The CCTV system was recently launched with six video cameras spread amongst the Downtown and Le Village areas of the city.

It's hoped the CCTV system will serve as a crime deterrent and help to create an enhanced sense of safety in the commercial areas, officials said.

Three cameras have been stationed along Montreal Road, and another three have been erected on Pitt Street between First and Second streets. Signage has also been installed to notify the public of the cameras.

Police are using a "passive monitoring" approach with the cameras in that the images are recorded and then used to investigate and solve crimes if criminal activity is reported in the areas where the cameras are situated.

The project was made possible through a $100,000 grant from the Civil Remedies Grant Program.

The camera system has been set up as a three-year pilot project, and officials will evaluate the system's effectiveness as the project moves along. If it's deemed successful, there may be opportunities to expand the system in the future.

Other partners in the project include the City of Cornwall, the Downtown and Le Village Business Improvement Areas, Cornwall Electric and Cornwall and Area Housing Corporation.