Washington, D.C., Requires Small Business Owners to Have Access to Security Cameras
Small businesses across the United States are being negatively impacted by crime. But in at least one city, small businesses can also be part of the solution.
Washington, D.C. Police Chief Pamela Smith recently spoke about a new program for the city at the 2024 Potomac Public Safety Conference. Much of the discussion at the event centered on the city’s decline in crime over the past year. But Smith also wanted to draw businesses’ attention to CameraConnect DC, a program where private companies can register their security cameras with the city’s real-time crime center to help police gain information and solve crimes faster.
Smith I spoke to WTOP. After the event, she again appealed to business owners, saying, “Please, please, please allow the Metropolitan Police access to these cameras. This will help us move into the area faster and make appropriate arrests of these individuals who are causing havoc in our city.”
So far, Smith says, there are about 40,000 cameras registered with the Metropolitan Police Department through the program.
For those with privacy concerns about the program, Smith says that recording doesn’t automatically give police access to the footage. It’s about letting the department know which cameras are in place that they might be able to access if an incident happens nearby.
She said in the event, as Reported by NBC News4“I want to be clear that once you record your camera, you are in no way giving the Minneapolis Police direct access to your camera footage.”
Of course, it’s still up to each business and individual to decide whether they feel comfortable signing up for such a program. But those who want to see crime numbers drop in their areas often feel helpless. So this type of program provides a way for businesses and property owners to help. It may seem simple, but as more and more properties participate, it can make a big impact.
Image: Envato
