Helsinki to increase camera surveillance in troubled areas

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The City of Helsinki intends to acquire 100 to 150 new security surveillance cameras for the Helsinki Police by 2010. The cameras will be installed in public places where disturbances occur most often, says Chief Inspector Mika Pöyry.
      In addition to fixed camera systems, the police will also get portable surveillance cameras, which are to be used during major public events and state events.
     
The acquisition of new surveillance cameras for the uniformed police is a consequence of Mayor Jussi Pajunen’s initiative to improve the City’s everyday security.
      "The aim is that citizens can feel equally safe in all parts of the City", said Pajunen.
      The surveillance systems will cost the City from EUR 0.5 to 1.0 million, depending on the number of cameras. The main part of the system is scheduled to be completed by 2010.
     
The fixed surveillance systems are to be installed for example in the districts of Ala-Malmi, Ylä-Malmi, Itäkeskus, and Kallio, where the cameras should monitor particularly the neighbourhood of the Sörnäinen Metro Station.
      As for Itäkeskus, Chief Inspector Pöyry mentions the disorderly Tallinn Square, which the patrolling police will be able to monitor through surveillance cameras in the future. The installation work will get started in a few weeks.
     
Moreover, all cargo port operations from the city centre will move to Vuosaari by November 2008, which means that the surveillance of the City’s harbour areas will also become topical, as border guards will no longer monitor the public order in those places.
      Surveillance systems with a link to the operational command centre in the Pasila Police Station will be installed in Helsinki’s West Harbour and South Harbour, as well as at the Katajanokka Terminal and the Olympia Terminal.
      In fact, the installation of security cameras will begin in the West Harbour already next week, according to Pöyry. The number of security cameras in the area will be around ten.
      Part of the security surveillance system is already working. At the Pasila operational command centre, it is already possible to view pictures from Esplanadi Park, the Central Railway Station, the Market Square, and the Kiasma contemporary art museum area, as well as some other locations.
      While the Kaisaniemi Park is also already monitored by a security camera, Chief Inspector Pöyry says that the camera surveillance in the park will be enhanced.
     
The aim is to equip certain patrolling police units with portable security cameras. They would be helpful when monitoring the behaviour of people in major public events, including concerts in Helsinki’s Kaivopuisto and Kaisaniemi parks, as well as the New Year event at the Senate Square. Other important events to be monitored are state visits.
      "The cameras will certainly be useful next year when Finland is to hold the chairmanship of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe", Mika Pöyry concluded, presumably in a reference to possible demonstrations.
      Currently the Helsinki police have some 25 security surveillance cameras, monitoring the Esplanadi Park, the Central Railway Station, the Kaisaniemi Park, the Presidential Palace, Parliament, and the Kiasma Contemporary Art Museum, among some other targets.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Widespread sense of insecurity in Helsinki´s Kaisaniemi Park at night (7.10.2005)
  Survey: Helsinki citizens feel safe in familiar streets (14.6.2005)
  Helsinki Police Department introduces new surveillance cameras (1.9.2006)
  Half of Helsinki schools have security camera surveillance (20.11.2007)

Helsingin Sanomat