In future, the police in North Rhine-Westphalia will be using mobile video surveillance systems. Ten systems, which were co-developed by the State Office for Police Services (LZPD), will strengthen the work of the police at crime hotspots or at major events in future. Interior Minister Herbert Reul presented the systems in Duisburg on Wednesday, December 6, 2023. The technology is already ready for use this year.
Interior Minister Herbert Reul: "The mobile video surveillance systems will provide the North Rhine-Westphalia police with the desired operational support and a better overview of crime hotspots. The systems are an in-house production of the police in North Rhine-Westphalia, which provide flexible support for operations in line with requirements. We need the technology so that the police are optimally equipped for every operation."
The ten video surveillance systems can be deployed throughout the state in all 47 district police authorities and set up flexibly as required. Each system is equipped with six cameras. The devices can operate autonomously for up to ten days without a power supply. The mast of the systems can be extended up to five meters high.
The live images are viewed by trained personnel and can only be viewed by the police. The legal basis for video surveillance is provided by Section 15 or 15a of the North Rhine-Westphalia Police Act. The systems comply with data protection regulations.
In some cities, stationary video surveillance is already in place at certain crime hotspots. By developing the systems, the North Rhine-Westphalia police are responding to the needs of the district police authorities.
The Bonn police already designed two of their own mobile video surveillance systems in 2019. These findings from their use were used to further develop the new systems.