Smile, you will be filmed even more than before! In Montauban (Tarn-et-Garonne), the town hall announces the installation ofabout fifteen new video surveillance cameras This year. The municipality already has more than 120 (86 on the road, to which are added around forty cameras on municipal buildings) and therefore does not intend to stop there.
This new investment at a cost, around 200,000 euros. Not to mention the maintenance of those already installed: a bill of 90,000 euros per year. But according to Brigitte Barèges, the mayor of Montauban, it is a very useful expense, especially in the context of judicial investigations: “We keep the images for a fortnight. This allows the police station and the prosecutor to make requisitions in the context of investigations. It has already made it possible to solve many cases.”
Artificial intelligence at the service of the municipal police
We do not yet know the location of the fifteen new cameras, their positioning is under study. On the other hand, the model has already been chosen, and it’s very high end. With their high-performance zoom, they will be able to see small details a few tens of meters away. Claude Jean, deputy mayor in charge of public security: “These cameras have very good vision. When zoomed in, there are better identification possibilities and improved night vision.”
These cameras allowuse artificial intelligence, with very concrete applications, for example for video surveillance operators. Patrick Carballo, the director of the municipal police of Montauban: “An operator, when he has more than fifteen screens, he no longer sees anything. Today, we are in a slightly different logic. If, for example, a camera detects prohibited parking, the screen will light up, the operator will be alerted and the entire response chain will be implemented.”
Very divided opinions on the cameras
The Montalbanais are shared vis-à-vis these additional cameras. For Danielle, “It doesn’t bother me at all, on the contrary, it can be useful. If we get attacked, someone wants to steal my laptop, I’m right under the camera, so I hope the operators will see it Insofar as it is not simply used to verbalize badly parked cars, it is reassuring.
On the other hand, Marc considers that he “There are too many cameras. I consider that it does not bring anything except additional control and an exorbitant cost for our taxes.” Marie-José does not want to see the city being invaded by cameras: “I’m not particularly for the development of this kind of excessive things. A few are useful, but you don’t need more. It’s not an atmosphere that I really appreciate.” Christian, for his part, squarely questions the effectiveness of the device: “People are going to larceny elsewhere, where there are no cameras!”
Montauban will also soon have a new police station for its municipal police. Work is due to begin this year on Grand Rue Sapiac. These new premises will cost 7 to 8 million euros.
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