Video surveillance for enhanced community safety

It’s a problem familiar to local communities the length and breadth of the country. Waste casually discarded at recycling centres rather than disposed of correctly, underpasses covered in unsightly graffiti and sports fields overrun by boisterous revellers partying until the early hours every weekend. This type of behaviour is not only a nuisance for local residents but can also cause anxiety. However, since resident safety is a key concern for municipalities, more and more of them are turning to video surveillance solutions.

By Jonas Affolter

12 December 2023

With the right partner, video surveillance of public areas can be a walk in the park for municipalities. The partner is responsible for installation, maintenance and updates, guarantees data protection compliance, is available 24/7 if equipment fails and immediately takes care of repairs and replacements. Decisions about where to install the cameras are made in conjunction with the municipality. Experts are on hand at all times to provide advice and identify further options that non-specialists may not have considered. Local officials do not need specialist knowledge and can focus on their other tasks. Since the entire cloud infrastructure and cameras can be leased, municipalities do not have to make major investments. In addition, the costs can be precisely budgeted.

An internet connection and mains supply are all that is needed to install the cameras. The cameras are installed quickly and then stream images to a precisely defined user group. A trusted partner stores all data in a Switzerland-based cloud in compliance with data protection regulations. Recordings can be watched in real time or later. For data protection reasons, every action is recorded in a journal. This makes it possible to trace exactly who viewed which content, and when. After an agreed period of time, the data stored in the cloud is deleted. In many cases, municipalities are not interested in catching the offenders in the act and the cameras merely act as a deterrent. The latest video surveillance systems also score highly with a wide range of additional features. For example, they can be set up to detect unauthorised individuals in an area and to automatically trigger an alarm at the control centre. The video cameras can also be connected to loudspeakers, which play a warning message. These and other functions can be combined on a modular basis to ensure that every municipality gets the solution it needs.

On the rare occasion that the deterrent does not work and vandalism occurs, the municipality can send the corresponding recordings as evidence with a link straight to the police. Officials are able to access the recording following two-factor authentication. This method is secure and complies with data protection regulations. Only the exact data required is exchanged and it can only be accessed by the individuals who really need it. This method eliminates the chance of a USB stick containing sensitive data going missing.

For many people, video security systems smack of intrusive surveillance. This is understandable; after all, recording individuals is an infringement of their privacy. However, the strict regulations that govern video surveillance systems and the use of a Swiss cloud ensure that they fully comply with data protection requirements. In this way, municipalities can improve the safety and security of their residents and provide attractive residential areas in the long term.

Your contact person

Jonas Affolter

Product Manager Video Insider and Crowd Insider
Jonas.Affolter@swisscom.com

About Jonas Affolter

Jonas Affolter is the Product Manager for Video Insider and Crowd Insider at Swisscom Broadcast. The graduate business economist and electrical engineer has been monitoring developments in the safety and security sector for many years and integrates the latest technologies into customer solutions.