AIKEN, S.C. (AP) - The installation of cameras in a South Carolina city’s downtown area to help increase safety is scheduled for April.
The addition of the cameras are meant to “deter crime and assist with the investigation of any crimes that do occur in the downtown area,” said Aiken Public Safety Capt. Bryan Mills.
The Aiken Department of Public Safety will have the ability to access live or recorded footage from any of the cameras from its headquarters, the Aiken Standard reported. The city will be partnering with downtown businesses to implement the project which will initially focus on the portion of the downtown around The Alley Plaza area.
“The downtown area is just phase one,” Mills said. “We do expect to expand (the project) as funds become available.”
The current project consists of 21 camera locations throughout the downtown area. Operated by Netplanner Systems, the system is being built from the Transportation and Public Safety Improvement fund with $450,000 being used for the cost of equipment, construction and future annual costs to maintain the system.
Several business owners in Aiken’s downtown area are excited, and relieved, for the additional security near their businesses. Det Haislip, owner of True Value and who has lived in Aiken for 43 years, said the new downtown security system will more than likely deter criminal activity.
“I think it’s in the city’s best interest to have a handle on this for when they do have incidents,” Haislip said.
The security project is expected to be completed by the end of the summer.
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