OPS launches CAMSafe
The Ottawa Police Service (OPS) is proud to announce the launch of CAMSafe, a new initiative designed to enhance crime prevention and assist in investigations by leveraging community security cameras. OPS is calling on residents with surveillance systems on their property to register your interest in partnering with police to keep our neighborhoods safe.
CAMSafe is a voluntary registry where residents and businesses can provide their contact details and indicate their willingness to share recorded security footage with police when needed —officers do not have access to live footage and will only contact you in the event an incident occurs in your area and your footage may be of use in an investigation. This modernized approach to community safety is a new, modern version of Neighbourhood Watch and aims to create a valuable resource for law enforcement agencies across Ontario.
The program strictly maintains privacy and security. The contact list contains only your basic details and camera location. We will never share this list and registrants retain full control over their participation in the program. Participation is always voluntary and participants can update or remove their contact information at any time.
When a crime occurs, officers can consult CAMSafe to identify registered cameras in the vicinity. The system provides a screenshot of the camera’s perspective that registrants upload when signing up, enabling officers to determine whether relevant footage may be available. If so, police will reach out to the registrant to request video evidence that could aid in the investigation.
Several police services and communities, including Belleville, the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), Sudbury, Peterborough, Hanover, Saugeen Shores, and Kawartha Lakes, are actively supporting CAMSafe and encouraging participation in their jurisdiction.
The success of CAMSafe relies on widespread community involvement. To promote registration, the OPS CAMSafe team will be conducting an outreach campaign and a marketing campaign in the coming weeks. An official launch event is scheduled for April 28, 2025, from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM, where community police officers will be available to answer questions from the public.
For more information on CAMSafe or to register, please visit ottawapolice.ca/camsafe↗ or email camsafe@ottawapolice.ca