Kelowna launches voluntary CCTV registry to speed up police investigations

Kelowna RCMP and the City of Kelowna have launched a new voluntary CCTV registry aimed at helping police more quickly locate security camera footage following incidents near local businesses.

The Business CCTV Registry allows businesses to register the location of their surveillance cameras so investigators can more efficiently identify potential video evidence during an active case. Officials say the program does not provide police with live access to cameras and does not require automatic sharing of footage.

“The Business CCTV Registry was one of the recommendations that came forward from the Mayor’s Task Force on Crime Reduction,” Mayor Tom Dyas said in a statement. “As we continue to advocate for bail reform and stronger action on repeat property offenders, this program will help the RCMP quickly identify video evidence following an incident.”

Businesses retain full control over their camera systems and recordings. Registration simply signals that surveillance footage may exist and could be requested by police during an investigation.

City officials say the program builds on a 2020 pilot and has been updated to improve usability while maintaining privacy and security standards. They add it is intended to strengthen partnerships between police and the business community while supporting evidence-based policing.

“By knowing where cameras are located, officers can move quickly to advance an investigation through a more defined area,” said Cpl. Steven Lang, media relations officer with the Kelowna RCMP. “It improves our ability to identify suspects, make arrests and provide a report to the BC Prosecution Service.”

The registry is now live, and businesses can sign up at kelowna.ca/businesscctvregistry.