Fake CCTVs to 'control traffic, not crime'
Installing dummy surveillance cameras is acceptable and even widely practised. Its effectiveness is in discouraging traffic violations instead of preventing crime or providing evidence, a deputy Bangkok police chief said yesterday.
In Singapore, both fake and real cameras are used to discourage jaywalking and the jumping of red lights, said Pol Maj-General Phanu Kerdlarpphol, who is in charge of Bangkok traffic police.
"This was once considered for Bangkok, but it had not gone ahead because there are real cameras already in use," he added.
The officer was responding to reports emerging on the www.pantip.com webboard that the Bangkok Metropolitan Authority had installed 500 fake cameras in the capital - a charge the BMA has admitted.
"I know that fake cameras are used in other countries to control traffic violations, but the authorities should not depend on this practice to prevent crime or produce evidence," he added.
Bangkok governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra said he did not believe there was any corruption involved in the purchase of surveillance cameras, fake or otherwise, but he would have it investigated anyway. He said 1,325 fake cameras, priced at Bt2,500 apiece, had been bought in four lots separately from the purchase of real cameras, priced between Bt34,000 and Bt130,000.
He said all the 10,000 real surveillance cameras had been installed by June under his policy and that another 10,000 would be installed before his first term ends in January 2013.
Pheu Thai MP Jirayu Huangsab said a panel had been set up to scrutinise the issue since there were several discrepancies in statements regarding the matter from Sukhumbhand and his predecessor Aphirak Kosayodhin, both members of the Democrat Party.
He said the National Anti-Corruption Commission and the Office of Auditor-General would be asked to look into the matter to see if there was any corruption involved.
