Sri Lanka police adds Mobile CCTV:

Colombo City, safer now

By Jayampathy JAYASINGHE

IGP N.K. Illangakoon launches the CCTV mobile van by cutting the ribbon at Police Headquarters, Colombo.

IGP N.K. Illangakoon monitoring the CCTV panels inside the mobile van. Pix: Susantha Wijegunesekera

A mobile van equipped with sophisticated cameras and communication equipment was launched to detect crime in the Colombo city and to keep a tab on errant motorists who violate the highway code. Last week IGP N.K. Illangakoon launched the mobile van at a ceremony held at the police headquarters Colombo.

IGP Illangakoon told the media personnel that a mobile van with a state of the art communication network and a digital camera will be deployed in the Colombo city to track criminals and motorists who violate the highway code. “We hope to expand this service to other areas as well by deploying two more mobile vehicles in a months time,” he said.

The Police Media Spokesman SP Ajith Rohana said crime prevention and traffic management in the Colombo City stood high when compared to other Asian cities. He attributed this to the setting up of a Close Circuit Television (CCTV) system in the Colombo city. The first CCTV system was launched in the Colombo city by Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa on December 29, 2010, he said.

Around 105 CCTV cameras have been installed at 28 key locations in the city that affords protection to the people. The CCTV cameras continuously monitor the activities of criminals and others who violate traffic offences for 24 hours. The cameras also monitor the exit and entrance points to the Colombo City.

The project has cost Rs. 227 million, according to police. SP Rohana said the mobile van concept was an extension of the CCTV project which was initiated in 2010.

The sophisticated cameras can view objects from a distance of 1.5 kilometres and number plates of vehicles from 150 metres away.

Those manning the control panels in the mobile vehicle can manoeuvre the cameras in 32 directions to relay images and visuals to the main command centre in Colombo for necessary action.

According to the Police Media Spokesman, the mobile CCTV becomes invaluable during a riot or when there is a commotion in areas where static CCTV cameras are not available to monitor such activity. The mobile CCTV vehicle will also record and store visuals automatically.

SP Rohana said recorded footage are valid in a court of law under section 14 of the Evidence Ordinance of 1995. These includes photographs, voice recorded cassettes, photocopies, as evidence in respect of civil and criminal cases. The newly launched Mobile CCTV can be of immense help to answer distress calls of persons who arrive in the Colombo City from distant places.

Plans are also afoot to expand the CCTV network to other major cities in the provinces. “We have plans to set up more CCTV cameras in the city of Colombo,”he said. The setting up of the CCTV cameras in the Colombo City has helped detection of the following crimes from January to December 2011.

(1)Solved three cases of grave crime.
(2)Providing technical assistance to police in respect of 25 criminal investigations.
(3)Acting in consultations with the Police Emergency Unit to detect 3,447 cases of traffic offences.
(4)Helped police detect one fatal road accident and 622 cases of injury caused to persons and damage caused to property.
(5)Helped police search 263 suspicious characters.
(6)Helped police identify nine wanted persons.
(7)Helped police search 80 suspected premises.
(8)Helped public recover two lost items.
(9)Help police supervise 1869 VVIP security arrangements.
(10)Helped monitor eight natural disasters.
(11)Helped police monitor 69 protest marches and rallies.
(12)Helped police monitor 214 religious processions including VVIP funeral processions.
(13)Provided guidance and advice on three occasions.

The new addition was the brainchild of Senior DIG Gamini Navaratna who proposed the concept of introducing a mobile CCTV vehicle to be deployed in the city of Colombo. DIG W.F.U. Fernando at police Headquarters Colombo provided logistical support to make the project a reality.

The newly launched CCTV mobile van.

The Close Circuit Television Division (CCTV) comes under the purview of DIG Traffic, Western Province, Amarasiri Senaratne. ASP. T P. Gamlath functions as the Director of the Close Circuit Television Division. Chief Inspector A.M.P.P.D. Seneviratne functions as the OIC of the Division while Chief Inspector Sarath de Silva functions as its Co-Ordinating Officer. Chief lecturer of the Moratuwa University, B.S. Amaraweera is the Consultant of the Police CCTV Division.

The concept of setting up CCTV cameras in the city will inculcate in the minds of people to desist from committing crime as they will be fearful of being watched by an electronic eye. The CCTV footage when produced in a court of law, will be treated as admissible evidence to support the crime. The CCTV is also intended to discipline motorists who often violate the highway code and will help identify hit-and-run motorists.

The CCTV cameras will be useful during natural disasters to locate injured persons and to dispatch them to hospital without delay. The CCTV cameras will help locate a sudden fire in a building and to inform the Fire Department of the exact location. The system will help provide security during VVIP movements.