Winnipeg considers public surveillance cameras

City officials in Winnipeg are examining the idea of installing surveillance cameras on public streets to help curb crime.

The city's administration is putting together a report on the potential use of public surveillance cameras, which are already in use in Canadian communities ranging from Toronto to the small town of Virden, Man.

While Winnipeggers have expressed resistance to such surveillance in the past, the public seems to have warmed to the idea, Coun. Gord Steeves, who chairs the city's protection and community services committee, told CBC News Monday.

"It may have been one of those things where a critical mass has been reached in this city," he said. "There's more cameras around. People are getting more used to the idea. Society at large might be a little more tolerant to the idea, so maybe its time has come."

One challenge to the plan could be deciding where cameras should be located, Steeves said.

"Winnipeg is a difficult city because it's quite spread out to kind of put your finger on specific spots where cameras would be most useful," he said. "I'd have to be shown that there are specific spots in this city where cameras would genuinely help [stop] repetitive crime."

North End a possibility: residents group

The William Whyte Residents Association thinks its neighbourhood would be a good place to start. The area has become notorious for criminal activity in recent years, including especially a four-block stretch of Magnus Avenue, which has seen nine homicides and 12 shooting injuries over the last seven years.

Association president Denise Greyeyes believes cameras might help deter criminal activity.

"It would be nice on corners on some of the problem areas," she said Monday. "It would probably make people think about what they are doing, maybe identify some of the traffic going on there, what the problem is."

The continuous nature of camera monitoring might help where other initiatives have failed, she said.

"With other programs, it's just when people are out there and noticing. A lot of times, these crimes are happening during hours when people are usually home sleeping."

Winnipeg police have stepped up the force's presence in the neighbourhood in response to the shooting death of Joanne Hoeppner, a 28-year-old pregnant woman, on Magnus Avenue last week.

The city's administration expects to have its report on using security cameras ready for politicians to examine by February at the earliest.