Kathmandu, May 2

As many as 1,507 CCTV cameras with night-vision feature have been added to the network of visual technology across the country after Community-police Partnership Programme came into effect on October 28.

Installation of surveillance cameras aims to monitor suspicious activities, control crime and facilitate criminal investigation.

According to Senior Superintendent of Police Uttam Raj Subedi, who is also Nepal Police spokesperson, the use of CCTV aids not only in controlling crime but also in carrying out evidence-based criminal investigation.

Recently, police, in association with Sangam Club, installed 22 CCTVs at different places of Basundhara in Kathmandu as part of the Community-police Partnership Programme to strengthen security.

The CCTVs were installed at a cost of around Rs 1.3 million. The control room of the CCTVs has been set up at Metropolitan Police Sector, Tilingatar.

Nepal Police has attached high priority to the use and expansion of modern technology for maintaining peace and security, crime control and criminal investigation. Prior to the launch of Community-police Partnership Programme, the security agency had 2,916 CCTV cameras across the country. It is also doing groundwork to establish a CCTV national grid. “CCTV camera has been acting as the third eye for the law enforcement officers in areas where manual policing is not possible round the clock. Public video surveillance can be employed as a primary tool to monitor movement of people. It deters criminals from committing crime and makes people feel safe,” said SSP Subedi.

Use of CCTV by Nepal Police dates back to 2004 with the installation of eight surveillance cameras in and around its headquarters. Kathmandu valley boasts of over 500 CCTVs as of now. Digital checkpoints have already been placed in all four transit points of the valley with the aim of bolstering surveillance system.

Nepal Police has also adopted rapid information system and has employed drones as part of effective surveillance mechanism. Communication Directorate of the security agency is responsible for installation, repair/maintenance and control of CCTVs.

Police have also been monitoring vehicular movement, traffic rule violations and hit-and-run cases in sensitive locations of the valley from the control room of the Metropolitan Police Office through CCTVs.