More surveillance cameras to be installed in Astana

Astana, July 29, 2010 (Khabar) - The number of outdoor surveillance cameras is set to be increased in Astana to monitor public order with even remote areas of the city. They are also planned to be under video control.
- Hello. This is the operator speaking. When did it happen? How was your flat broken into? What has been stolen from your flat? All right. Don’t touch anything with your hands. Tell me the full address of the scene.
The call centre of 102 control room of the Astana City Police Department receives around 2 thousand such calls every day.
Oksana Golovko, 102 operator, control room, Astana city police:
- People call us to tell us about their problems and complaints. Some people get in trouble which is why you have to be able to manage the situation correctly and quickly provide that person with corresponding assistance, process the information and send officers to the scene.
- Astana control room, Captain Durov speaking. A patrol is on its way and will be there in three minutes.
All streets and residential areas are in full view of the surveillance cameras in this control room. From here, operators control a total of 323 surveillance cameras installed around the city.
Barzhaksy Kasimov, control room chief, Astana city police:
- Parks, recreation areas and all other public places are monitored with cameras. Sometimes, we help parents find their children if they get lost. Some people may feel sick and operators in the control room can spot it and send an ambulance unit there.
Before the end of this year, Astana will have a total of 370 surveillance cameras. This round-the-clock surveillance has been in operation in Astana for ten years and potential law breakers are well aware that they are being watched. This is probably why the rate of crimes committed in Astana has reduced while committed crimes are now solved more quickly.