Justice minister, DGA chief discuss partnership to boost digital judicial services    Netanyahu does not rule out further strikes on Hamas leaders    US farmers are being squeezed – and it's testing their deep loyalty to Trump    Romania condemns 'irresponsible' Moscow after Russian drone breaches its airspace    Kirk's assassination is forcing US politicians to make difficult choices about their safety    India players refused handshakes, says Pakistan coach    Final stage of Spanish Vuelta cycling race abandoned after disruption by pro-Palestine protesters    Mané fires Al Nassr past Al Kholood to keep perfect start as Ronaldo honored    Lacazette brace earns NEOM SC first Saudi Pro League win    Adolescence star Owen Cooper makes Emmys history at 15    Saudi liquidity grows 8.4%, reaching SR3.1 trillion in July 2025    Over 434,000 people acquire first aid skills during nationwide health campaign    Saudi Arabia's legislative advancement highlighted at International Conference on Judicial Training    Sudden swerving among 3 major causes of accidents in Riyadh in 2024    Princess Haifa emphasizes pivotal Saudi role in shaping future of tourism    Sahm Capital names Saudi Olympian Fayik Abdi as brand ambassador    SR9000 fine for copyright infringement using AI    King Charles and Prince Harry finally reunite after 19 months apart    Anastacia: Arnold Schwarzenegger made me sing Whatta Man 12 times    Thousands pay their last respects to Giorgio Armani, private funeral on Monday    The key to happiness    Sholay: Bollywood epic roars back to big screen after 50 years with new ending    Ministry launches online booking for slaughterhouses on eve of Eid Al-Adha    Shah Rukh Khan makes Met Gala debut in Sabyasachi    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Surveillance cameras, a must
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 02 - 10 - 2015


Mishal Al-Sudairi
Okaz


I WAS in Taif the other day when I noticed that some of big billboards as well as school and building walls were spray-painted and there were some obscene words written on them. The vandals did not even spare the large billboard in the middle of one of the main roads. If we had installed surveillance cameras in public places, we would have captured the culprits easily. Apparently, they got away with it because our streets do not have any cameras.
I came to know through a friend that the Jeddah Municipality had installed 112 surveillance cameras in the Corniche area. For that we thank the municipality but this number is small and more cameras should be installed. The following reports will make us feel frustrated and disappointed because we do not have surveillance cameras in public places.
The United Kingdom has over six million such cameras installed all over the cities, especially London. The crime rate has gone down, thanks to these cameras. In fact, London is the first city to have this large number of cameras followed by Chicago, Huston, New York, and Dubai. UK Police can keep a close eye on everyone on the street for months and years, if they want to.
There is a camera for every 11 persons; a person can be captured by 70 cameras a day from different angles. That is the reason for the low home and shop robberies rates as well as pickpocket incidents. A report said the robberies were down 70 percent. Over 95 percent of crimes are solved within days or weeks and the criminals committing them are nabbed.
In Dubai alone, there are hundreds of thousands of surveillance cameras. I am not exaggerating when I say each square meter is covered by such a camera. Anything that happens on a street will be detected. Citizens and expatriate workers do not dare to violate or break the law because if they do, they know they would be captured by these cameras. Anyone caught in the act while engaging in some disgraceful practice will face the music.
I think that is why our reckless young men turn into lambs when they go to Dubai. They are scared of violating the laws. I remember the story of a Saudi man who went to Dubai for the first time. He loved the spacious streets and decided to drift with his cars. The cameras captured him and he was arrested shortly and slapped with a fine of 500,000 dirhams because he put his life and the lives of others on the line with his recklessness. He also damaged the layer of the asphalt, which made the road unsafe.
Do you know that even policemen carry hidden cameras in their clothes to capture all the details of any incident? In the Grand Mosque, the surveillance cameras helped authorities catch pickpockets. Because of them, the number of pickpockets has gone down.
I am a staunch support of surveillance cameras and I hope authorities install the largest number of them on our streets, in our school, and our hospitals and malls.


Clic here to read the story from its source.