The Macao Public Security Police Force (PSP) has been authorised to install 800 additional cameras to monitor public spaces in the peninsula of Macao and in the islands of Taipa and Coloane from today onwards.
The authorisation for the operation of video surveillance cameras by the PSP was published in the Official Gazette (BO) in an order by Secretary for Security Wong Sio Chak. The document lists all the locations where the cameras are to be installed.
The government plans to install a total of 2,600 cameras by 2023 in areas with high concentrations of people, such as new maritime piers, border posts and urban areas close to schools and public transportation stations, justifying that the installation of these cameras will serve as deterrent of crime activities. In 2016 and 2018, the government installed 820 video surveillance cameras.
In April, during a presentation of the government activity for 2020, Wong told the Macao Assembly that “the trend towards the development of cybercrime, the significant changes in the operation of criminal associations, the increased risk of cross-border crimes, the complexity of maritime and coastal security environment and the instability brought about by illegal gambling activities pose challenges to law enforcement.”
During the presentation, Wong promised to reinforce video surveillance and facial recognition technology in the coming years “considering it is the best way to control and fight crime in Macao.”
