The City of White Rock now has a policy governing the use of video surveillance/recording on civic properties and facilities.
Council voted unanimously Monday (Oct. 6) to adopt Policy IT 800, following review of the document during a Sept. 29 meeting of the governance and legislation committee.
The policy establishes "guidelines for the use of video surveillance/recording equipment to enhance the security of properties, objects and activities and the personal safety of persons that are in, on or near facilities owned or occupied by the City of White Rock." It also regulates where the equipment is to be stored, who can access it and when. Signage is to be posted in all areas where the equipment is in use.
The policy was not discussed last week, however, Coun. Helen Fathers told Peace Arch News prior to the Sept. 29 meeting it has "nothing to do with" closed-circuit television cameras that were proposed in June 2012 for the promenade. That suggestion has not been pursued since a December 2012 staff report concluded use of the cameras for the waterfront was not justified.