From Other Sources
Based on reports – mostly from media or police communications – we also know that Hamilton Police have:
- At least one mobile tower surveillance camera, which can be dispatched to events or actions and live monitored.
- A “Remote Piloted Aircraft System” – also known as a manually operated surveillance drone
- via HPS twitter for the Grey Cup
- The ability to triangulate cell phones quickly or retroactively
- via Bosma Murder news articles
- used without a warrant to find someone who was deemed a risk to themselves
- Covert surveillance cameras they can place outside of residences
- via Paul Manning’s twitter
- Had a keycode for and used – at least temporarily – Clearview AI
- via CBC news article. Obtained by police in the fall of 2019 at a conference. As of February 2020, Bergen states the service does not use facial recognition technology
- Automated License Plate Readers
- While we couldn’t find any specific indication that HPS uses ALPR technology it’s a safe bet that they do. Surrounding cities including Niagara, Burlington, Brampton, Toronto, London, Waterloo, Halton & the OPP are all documented users.
Hamilton City CCTV Program
- There are five initial cameras in the downtown core
- These cameras are hardwired to send signals to a viewing centre that can be monitored 24/7
- Were installed in June 2004
- 10 new cameras were added to James North, Ottawa Street, Concession Street and in Hess Village in 2008
- Wireless over a secure Internet Protocol technology
- All capable of streaming live video to any police station where recorded material is kept for 72 hours.
- In 2014 it was reported that Hamilton Police were attempting to build a city-wide registry of private surveillance cameras they can use in their investigations, by approaching BIA’s.
- Their hope was to integrate the feature with their crime map, from Bair Analytics
- In 2018, Police Chief Eric Girt supported a proposed bylaw from Sam Merulla which would allow private residents’ cameras to be used to capture activities on public streets and adjacent property to deter crime.
- The program had support from city council and the GIC, but was not yet endorsed as of March 2020. No other updates have been found.