The province is providing $1 million to fund pilot projects in Vancouver, Surrey and Kelowna to see if expanded use of closed-circuit TV cameras will help reduce crime in high crime areas.
Victoria will be working with local governments, law enforcement agencies and local Crown counsel to identify high-crime locations and select the best technologies to use.
Surrey mayor Dianne Watts is supportive of the project, as the city has been looking into the use of CCTV cameras as part of its crime reduction strategy.
Kelowna has been using CCTV cameras for a few years and is looking to expand their use.
Deployment of CCTV cameras in high-crime areas was one of the key recommendations made by the Progress Board of B.C. in their November 2006 report on reducing crime and improving criminal justice in the province.