Video surveillance in the northwest: does it bring more security or not?

Video surveillance in the northwest: does it bring more security or not?

In northwest Germany, the topic of video surveillance in public spaces has been the subject of lively discussions for some time. There are often calls for more cameras to increase security in order to prevent crimes and, if necessary, solve them. While the FDP in Delmenhorst is striving to expand video surveillance in the city center, the CDU in Oldenburg put forward a proposal two years ago to put schoolyards in the spotlight. But how effective is this measure actually?

Video surveillance is implemented in various cities in the northwest. In Delmenhorst we find cameras at the train station, while the city of Emden has set up surveillance at the “Neuer Markt”. Oldenburg has also not shied away from installing cameras at important intersections, such as Lange Straße/Heiligengeistwall. These measures were not only taken by public bodies; Many private companies also rely on video surveillance, for example in public transport.

The role of cameras in averting danger

In Emden, video surveillance is viewed as an important preventive measure. The Leer/Emden police station explains that the cameras are used to identify potential dangers at an early stage. In incidents such as physical altercations, officers can intervene quickly by saving the relevant footage. Automated storage occurs particularly at risky times, such as during the night on weekends.

It looks similar in Delmenhorst. If an intervention becomes necessary due to a physical altercation, the police officers at the train station can immediately view the events on a monitor and use the images to decide whether and how they need to react. Ideally, something worse can be prevented before a conflict escalates.

Investigation of crimes and preventive effects

In Oldenburg, the focus of the cameras is more on solving crimes that have already been committed. These recordings are documented around the clock, but evaluation is only carried out as needed. A police spokeswoman said that 289 crimes had already been recorded in the area covered this year, including physical injuries and pickpocketing. However, the fact that serious offenses such as sexual abuse can also occur remains unconfirmed because the police did not want to provide detailed information about specific incidents.

A particular bright spot are educational successes during city events. At a city festival in Oldenburg, for example, three cases of sexual harassment were resolved in a timely manner by analyzing video recordings.

The assessment that video surveillance not only helps to investigate but also to prevent crimes is shared by police departments. However, there is concern that some crimes are simply being relocated to other locations. This is particularly the case with crimes such as drug trafficking, as a spokeswoman for the Delmenhorst/Oldenburg-Land/Wesermarsch police explained.

If recordings are no longer needed, they are usually automatically overwritten after a few days. However, in cases where crimes are being solved, the evidence can be stored for longer. Such regulations are necessary to ensure the integrity of police work.

The arguments for more video surveillance are diverse, but they also represent a tension between security and fundamental rights. A spokesman for the Lower Saxony data protection officer emphasizes the need for strict data protection regulations in order to protect the personal rights of citizens. Technologies such as automatic facial recognition in particular pose additional challenges in the area of ​​data protection, which is why we warn against excessively lax monitoring measures.

The introduction and benefits of video surveillance in cities should therefore always be assessed in the context of the respective crime situation in order to avoid misuse and invasion of privacy. Ultimately, it remains to be seen how the discussion will develop and what new measures will be up for debate at the political level in order to guarantee citizens both security and protect their fundamental rights. Further information can be found in an article from Lokal26.de.