A “significantly impactful” security camera program that connects the Orillia OPP with footage from businesses and homes has been discontinued, but OPP officials hope the public will participate in a similar provincial program that could serve as its successor.
Launched in Orillia in 2021, the Security Camera Registry and Mapping (SCRAM) program allowed residents to volunteer security camera footage from their homes or businesses to aid in OPP investigations. Officials say 50 Orillia residents and 11 businesses have been participating in the program over the past three years.
Through the city and OPP-run program, residents were able to access rebates for security camera purchases through the Orillia Police Services Board. However, with the local police services board set to disband this spring in favour of a new board representing Orillia, Oro-Medonte, Severn, and Ramara, the program was discontinued Feb. 1.
“A lot of these things, unfortunately, like the programs … the police service board has supported in the past, now have to be reevaluated with the new (detachment board),” said Coyer Yateman, the Orillia OPP detachment's commander.
Yateman said the program has been “instrumental” in helping police both identify where security cameras are in place and in quickly canvassing for evidence during investigations.
“Any success to reduce victimization and to solve crimes is important in our community,” Yateman said. “I think anytime we can use technology to our advantage, it also allows some efficiency pieces for human hours in terms of investigations, so I think it was significantly impactful.”
With the SCRAM program phasing out in Orillia, Yateman said he hopes to see residents in each of the new detachment board’s communities participate in CamSafe — a similar program that allows residents to volunteer their security camera footage for police use during investigations.
“I believe that program will fulfill all the needs — it's just going to require the current registrants … to register themselves on CamSafe,” he said.
Like the SCRAM program, OPP officials can determine who has signed up for the CamSafe program and then request footage from participants to assist investigations.
“We will still canvas in the area, obviously, looking for any additional evidence or any eyewitnesses or cameras, but the ones that will be registered, we'll be able to quickly access or contact them to have that process started,” Yateman said.
The program requests basic contact information and camera locations, and participants can opt out at any time.
“There's no obligation for (residents) to enrol in this; they can remove their camera location at any time from the map,” Yateman said. “The police do not have access to their cameras, (we) just have access to the fact that we know you do have a camera.”
Although residents are free to enrol in CamSafe now, Yateman said he will seek the support of the new detachment board to encourage participation across Orillia, Oro-Medonte, Severn, and Ramara.
“I think the board's endorsement would be significant because, obviously, it shows a unified group of communities that are going to work together,” he said.
“People could start registering now — we don't have to wait for the board's endorsement — but I think it's an important piece that the board hopefully does see the value in it and endorse it," said Yateman.
“The more cameras that are out there, the better ability we have to investigate fully and solve crimes.”
The only major difference between the two programs, Yateman said, is that CamSafe does not offer rebates for security camera purchases.
Residents interested in learning more about CamSafe can read more on its website.
