SINGAPORE - The installation of over 62,000 police cameras in HDB blocks and multi-storey carparks (MSCP) has been completed, the police announced in a news release on Sunday (July 10).

All 10,000 blocks and carparks under the PolCam 1.0 initiative, which was first rolled out in April 2012, are now equipped with the cameras, which police revealed have proven useful in helping to deter and solve crimes.

"As of May 2016, 2,300 video footage from the cameras provided useful leads which helped the police solve more than 1,100 cases," the release said.

"Such cases included unlicensed moneylending, theft and outrage of modesty."

The police added that it will continue to install the cameras at new Build-To-Order HDB blocks and MSCPs.

A new initiative, PolCam 2.0, has also been rolled out to expand camera installation to public areas in town centres, neighbourhood centres, hawker centres and linkways that lead to transport nodes such as MRT stations and bus interchanges.



The camera views (from top to bottom) of a hawker centre, linkway and a town centre. PHOTOS: POLICE



The first cameras under PolCam 2.0 were put up at Ang Mo Kio Town Centre, Bedok Town Centre and Jurong Gateway last month.

About 11,000 more cameras will be progressively installed over the few years at 2,500 locations islandwide.

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The Straits Times reported in April that PolCam 2.0 is expected to be completed by December 2020.

Featuring pan-tilt-zoom functions and 360-degree fields of view, they will also be able to automatically analyse closed-circuit television footage to detect unusual activities.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations) Lau Peet Meng said: "The expansion of police cameras to other public areas in the neighbourhood and town centres will further strengthen the police's ability to deter, detect and solve crimes.

"We will continue to leverage on technology as part of our crime-fighting and counter-terrorism strategies to ensure a safe and secure home for everyone."