SANTO DOMINGO.- Interior and Police minister Jose Ramon Fadul announced Thursday a pilot plan to bolster security in the country’s numerous tourist resorts, with the installation of video cameras.
He said the Tourism Ministry is already contacting the tourist sector’s business leaders and will conclude the census this very month to start installing the equipment in September.
The official also said the Safe Barrio Program will be expanded to 113 districts across the country, to confront the high rate of crime.
Fadul spoke prior to a National Palace meeting with several officials headed by president Leonel Fernandez, as follow up to the chief executive’s promises during the popular dialogue held in the impoverished sector Gualey last week.
From: Dominican Republic, Cabrera
I'm sure we have had this proposal at least once before!
Written by: tejada, 18 Aug 2011 2:51 PM
From: United States
Shortly after installation, they will mysteriously disappear... look for them on eBay.
From: United States, FREEPORT, Long Island.... (Look, beyond the words)
The official also said the Safe Barrio Program will be expanded to 113 districts across the country, to confront the high rate of crime.<----------------Pointless, a police department with numerous patrol cars patrolling on a constant basis, not just ONE patrol unit w/ 4 police every other day, plus there are pervs that will utilize these monitoring equipment for their own jollies.
From: Dominican Republic
Odd...the funding was in place last year for the same project...where did the money go?
From: Dominican Republic, Puerto Plata
More Pilfering.
They did that a couple years ago, installed cheap analog cameras that were not connectes to anything and spent millions.
It's probably still on Nuria's'website.
Written by: riosm, 18 Aug 2011 5:40 PM
From: United States
I could see it now.....yep ! we have photo's of the crime in progress.
Nothing replaces good old fashion honest dedicated police foot patrols.
High police presence / visibility is a crime deterrent on to itself.
From: Dominican Republic, vieja Santo Domingo
I think the money before was for cameras in the tourist areas in the capital ...there were some placed in Conde but they do not work and they would be better placed in areas with less police presence
From: Iran, DirectorioDominicano.com
The face recognition technology is what is needed in DR. it certainly did come in handy
in the UK just recently. The sooner we get that, the better. Start cataloging "los tigueres de barrio".
From: United States
What ever happened to the Harley Davidsons that was suppose to patrol the streets? The gov't paid big bucks for those bikes and I have not heard anything about its effectiveness........Oy vey!!!!"
Written by: riosm, 19 Aug 2011 12:24 AM
From: United States
One does not need expensive "recognition technology" to determine the bad guys from law abiding citizens let's hope the bad guys don't use mask's / wigs and even make-up to cover their faces.
Talk about creating a data base.
The local police knows all to well who the slime of the earth is in their barrio....that is if their dedicated in doing their jobs properly.
Written by: zooma, 19 Aug 2011 7:51 AM
From: United States
The observed behavior of Dominican police is to avoid confrontation, one of many reasons why the public rarely call the police when there has been a crime. Unless there is some type of carrot (reward) offered for a response the police could not be bothered to act. A camera will not defuse a criminal act or make an arrest, period.
The agenda is somebody is selling security equipment and the Tourism Ministry and the Interior and Police Minister have something to gain from the sale, perhaps gains other than improving the security of the tourist zones.
Note: In recent years the govt. purchased new semaphore equipment for traffic management. This equipment is not well maintained and many cases lacks the 24 hr and/or backup power to operate because of long blackouts. Who in his right mind knowing this behavior would think the govt. would maintain the security equipment. It is throwing good money into a black hole. In fact, what govt equip is maintained after time of purchase?
From: Dominican Republic, vieja Santo Domingo
Zooma the first paragraph simply is not correct .In many many cases the police are called because it is necessary for the insurance company ...they always require the police to be called .It is true that if the detectives can see a possibility of a reward they will work harder..but when I was robbed , I gave 4000 pesos when they returned my TV,because they did a very good job and get paid very litlle .
In relation to the purchases , the Ministry can only buy if they have money in their budget ...and sure there will be a kickback .
You are very correct when you point out the lack of maintenance in govt equipment ...the security cameras already installed are not working and only half of the traffic lights .
Written by: riosm, 19 Aug 2011 11:04 AM
From: United States
Nothing like the "feel good, fell safe mentality" even if it was caught on tape the follow up investigation would still lack funding for an arrest, conviction and prison time.....but then again we can submit all tapes recorded to "Worlds stupid criminals", then again it would create bad press for those tourist industry dollars.
The system would only work with proper training, support, maintenance, follow-up investigation and the legal [Penal Code] after the fact.
Written by: zooma, 19 Aug 2011 11:41 AM
From: United States
Recardolio,
Police, you call they do not come. You have go to them to file the report. You pay them to write a report. You submit police report for insurance claim. Insurance does not pay claim because police did not report to site of crime, form not filed in triplicate, or the boss is out. Reason why people do not call police or have insurance.
Security cameras are inert like the police, they may give the unknowing tourist a warm and fuzzy feeling, they will not change the culture.
From: United States
just another scam to make money. a year or so ago, AMET was stopping every guy on a motorcycle who was not wearing a helmet. some bigwig got a container load of helmets from China, and wanted a quick buck, so he called one of his Generalissimo buddies, and they put the screws on the riders, to force them to buy a helmet. now that the shipment is sold out, it is back to business as usual. at least, until the next furgon arrives. same thing with these cameras. some guy got a closeout deal from ODD LOT, and himself and some politico buddies saw a good scam for a quick score. by Christmas, they will all be disconnected.
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They did that a couple years ago, installed cheap analog cameras that were not connectes to anything and spent millions.
It's probably still on Nuria's'website.
Nothing replaces good old fashion honest dedicated police foot patrols.
High police presence / visibility is a crime deterrent on to itself.
The face recognition technology is what is needed in DR. it certainly did come in handy
in the UK just recently. The sooner we get that, the better. Start cataloging "los tigueres de barrio".
Talk about creating a data base.
The local police knows all to well who the slime of the earth is in their barrio....that is if their dedicated in doing their jobs properly.
The observed behavior of Dominican police is to avoid confrontation, one of many reasons why the public rarely call the police when there has been a crime. Unless there is some type of carrot (reward) offered for a response the police could not be bothered to act. A camera will not defuse a criminal act or make an arrest, period.
The agenda is somebody is selling security equipment and the Tourism Ministry and the Interior and Police Minister have something to gain from the sale, perhaps gains other than improving the security of the tourist zones.
Note: In recent years the govt. purchased new semaphore equipment for traffic management. This equipment is not well maintained and many cases lacks the 24 hr and/or backup power to operate because of long blackouts. Who in his right mind knowing this behavior would think the govt. would maintain the security equipment. It is throwing good money into a black hole. In fact, what govt equip is maintained after time of purchase?
In relation to the purchases , the Ministry can only buy if they have money in their budget ...and sure there will be a kickback .
You are very correct when you point out the lack of maintenance in govt equipment ...the security cameras already installed are not working and only half of the traffic lights .
The system would only work with proper training, support, maintenance, follow-up investigation and the legal [Penal Code] after the fact.
Recardolio,
Police, you call they do not come. You have go to them to file the report. You pay them to write a report. You submit police report for insurance claim. Insurance does not pay claim because police did not report to site of crime, form not filed in triplicate, or the boss is out. Reason why people do not call police or have insurance.
Security cameras are inert like the police, they may give the unknowing tourist a warm and fuzzy feeling, they will not change the culture.