Against a backdrop of civil unrest, mounting economic tensions, and a looming national election, the Beverly Hills City Council voted at its Aug. 4 Regular Meeting to allocate an additional $200,000 to the City’s Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) program. At its earlier Study Session, the Council discussed the system’s ongoing expansion, a possible partnership with home security companies Nest and Ring, and other surveillance methods to achieve the City’s goal of “ubiquitous coverage.”
The project dates its origins to 15 years ago, according to a staff report compiled for the Study Session, during which Beverly Hills Police Department (BHPD) presented its plan to create a network of surveillance cameras throughout the City. The plan calls for camera placement in four key areas: critical infrastructure, such as public safety facilities and reservoirs; places of high crime, like intersections in commercial areas; locations with “a perceived need for additional security,” like schools and parks; and residential areas.
