Beverly Hills Cam – The Latest in Police Surveillance Technology

The affluent Los Angeles suburb has pioneered an integrated system of cameras, drones and surveillance technology that has put it at the forefront of street-level police monitoring. The city says the technology is helping it thwart crime and improve relations with residents.

Privacy advocates are concerned with how the technology is used. “There are real concerns that people aren’t being informed or they don’t understand what these systems can do,” said an expert on surveillance technology.

One of the latest projects is a new system that would put 200 additional security cameras on the streets of Beverly Hills. That’s in addition to the more than 2,000 cameras already in use, plus a seven-day-a-week aerial drone to monitor the area.

Beverly Hills’ license plate readers and cameras have identified thousands of suspect vehicles. And the city is planning to double that number in coming months, according to police chief Mark Stainbrook.

The city hopes to have cameras at every intersection, as well as parking garages and public buildings. The police say this will allow them to have a “virtual network” of surveillance and focus on calls that are high priority.

The city is also planning to increase the amount of red light camera refunds it offers. It’s not clear how the city plans to fund that expansion. The city’s current contract with RedFlex, which is handling the refunds, expires in 2020. The city is evaluating several bids for its replacement.