Sunday, 14 June 2015

MADRID COUNCIL INSTALLS MORE CCTV CAMERAS

657 Police Surveillance Cameras



  • Aiming to control Madrid nightlife and avoid thefts in pedestrian zones.
  • Police see what’s happening live at “Plaza de España”, “Plaza de los Cubes”, “Plaza de Santo Domingo” and “Plaza Mayor”.
  • Commission checked CCTV installation and gave permission to begin transmitting.

Big Brother’s watch in Madrid continues to expand...


After installing 55 surveillance cameras in December around “Azca” area, Madrid City Council has returned to install another 47 cameras around “Gran Vía”, “Plaza de Callao” and “Calle Princesa”.


Objectives are to control Madrid nightlife and monitor thefts and robberies. Municipal Police watch in real time everything that happens in Madrid’s city centre, 24 hours a day.

Some points coincide with Madrid's busiest pedestrian routes, like streets around “Plaza de España”, “Santo Domingo” and “Calle Mayor”.


This technology is already operational



The Commission inspected CCTV equipment and gave its approval. The Central Council System for Video Recordings (CISEVI) will be integrated and managed by Municipal Police.

Madrid now has more than 200 surveillance cameras throughout Madrid with Police officers monitoring “Plaza Mayor”, “Azca”, “Calle Montera”, “Calle Ballesta”, neighbourhoods of “Lavapies” and “La Latina”, and the open-air museum on “Calle Eduardo Dato”.

In addition, are 177 municipal traffic cameras focus on main roads in Madrid and 280 more devices controlled by Traffic Police scattered on roads around the region.

Specifically, according to the company responsible for this new installation, project includes placement of 6 cameras on “Gran Vía”, 3 on “Calle Princesa”, 2 in “Plaza de España”, 2 in “Plaza de Callao”, 4 on “Calle Arenal”, 3 in “Plaza de Santo Domingo” and 5 in “Plaza Mayor”. The rest are shared between “Calle Preciados”, “Plaza de Isabel II” and “Plaza del Carmen”, among other areas.

Cameras have great capacity for movement, turning up to 360 degrees, thus preventing any dead spots, but they will have software will prevent recording sensitive points, such as through building windows. They also have zoom and can record both day and night.

Automatic Police Alert


Politia de Bandera
10 out of these 47 devices feature analytical software which sends alerts to Police if it detects certain behaviours, such as a group of people running, helping Police respond faster.

Viewing material is restricted to a group specifically authorized agents. Images will be stored for a maximum period of seven days, after which they are auto erased unless requested by Police or a Judge.

Installation Cost €600,000


An expense, according to the Council, was justified because:


"We have seen a 10% reduction in the number of incidents and Police resources." 

Captured images will be stored for a maximum of 7 days


Despite initial doubts about these devices raised by residents when they began to install them (especially around “Lavapies”), neighbours seem to have fully adapted to them: "We agree they should be installed. Due to shouting, fights, robberies and drug trafficking, we prefer to be monitored than to remain in this situation", said by residents association for "Opera-Austrias". “We'll see if cameras are useful, because recorded images, don’t detect noise we put up with", added same spokesperson.

All Police forces in Spain are armed! All Officers carry hand guns!
CENTRO” District will become one of the most guarded areas in Madrid due to increase of 
thieves, fights and riots often occurring on the streets.

  • In 2014, crime fell by 2.9% in Madrid, from 221364 to 214881 [that's 588 reports each DAY!]

Government believe improvement is mainly due to Police pressure exercised around Madrid's "hot spots", including city centre and “Azca”.

Eye in the Sky


DRONES


Spanish Police and Fire Department have been using drones since 2013...

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