Voluntary registry could offer police footage from private, commercial security cameras across Saskatoon

Saskatoon police want easier access to a treasure trove of potential evidence.

The evidence is hidden away on security cameras owned by businesses and people across the city. No one knows exactly how many security cameras there are in Saskatoon, but security company owner Virgil Reed says the advances in technology are driving the growth.

"You don't even need a security company if you want to do it yourself to install your own security," he said in an interview.

"It's just exploded because of how easy it is, how affordable it is and how functional it is."

This week, the police created a voluntary security camera registry where individuals or businesses may indicate that they have security cameras.

Until now, police have canvassed residential neighbourhoods and around businesses after a crime has happened to find out whether anyone in the area had a system that may have captured the offence.

"If you register your camera with the security camera registry, you may be contacted by the SPS (Saskatoon Police Service) to request footage you may have available, if a crime is being investigated in your area. It is up to you if you provide any footage to the SPS and you are under no obligation to do so," police say on their website.

Police do not want access to a person's system. Rather, the footage would be transferred to a USB drive and taken to the police station.

The footage can offer dramatic visual evidence. On Sept. 9, 2021, nine-year-old Baeleigh Maurice died after getting hit by a truck while she was pushing her scooter across 33rd Street West. Taylor Ashley Kennedy, 28, was eventually charged with driving while high on cannabis.

A homeowner's doorbell camera captured the fatal collision. It was released on social media — not by police — and the graphic visuals drove the debate around the circumstances of the accident.

Today's systems feature crisp images and technology that can distinguish faces and vehicles, he said. Alerts can be sent to phones or private security companies.

"Nowadays with video analytics … it looks for a person. So video analytics person detection has been a game changer because now, when the homeowner, the business owner, gets an alert, it's probably a person in front of the camera," he said.

The growth is also shifting toward do-it-yourself kits such as doorbell cameras.

"So, 10 years ago, you wouldn't have a lot of people installing on their own. Now, I would say the do-it-yourself is 25 per cent of the market," he said.