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- Stouffville will consider a proposal to install CCTV cameras in partnership with York Regional Police.
- Three potential camera locations were identified by YRP based on local crime data.
- Integration with Automated Licence Plate Reader technology would help YRP identify stolen vehicles in real time.
- Camera and installation costs range from $10,000 to $15,000 per location, to be funded by the Town.
- YRP says the program has reduced crime in other municipalities while operating within transparent privacy rules.
- Staff will report back to Council with options before any decision is made on purchasing and deploying the cameras.
Stouffville will explore the potential installation of closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras through a partnership with York Regional Police (YRP).
The proposal was included in a recent letter sent to Mayor Iain Lovatt by YRP Deputy Chief Paulo Da Silva, as well as a presentation delivered to Council by Inspector Brad Weick, both urging the Town to consider purchasing CCTV cameras for use in key locations.
“CCTV Community Cameras enhance community safety by strategically installing cameras in areas where they will have the greatest impact,” Da Silva wrote. He added that integration with YRP’s Automated Licence Plate Reader (ALPR) network would allow police to be “better equipped to detect, deter, and assist in the arrest of those who commit crimes.”
Weick told Council that CCTV cameras using ALPR technology can automatically flag stolen vehicles or stolen licence plates in real time, enabling an immediate police response. He also noted that stolen vehicles are frequently tied to other criminal activity. “We know that stolen vehicles are used in commission of all sorts of crimes and offences,” he said. “Criminals don’t want to get caught, they use stolen vehicles.”
The technology, Weick emphasized, is intended to support officers rather than replace them, and would not reduce the number of police responding on the ground.
Three potential camera locations have been identified based on local crime data, with analysis focused on violent crime, break and enters, and vehicle theft. Proposed sites include the areas around Main Street and Mostar Street, Highway 48 and Hoover Park Drive, and Main Street and Market Street.
YRP is currently monitoring 38 CCTV sites across other York Region municipalities. Early results have been “encouraging,” Da Silva said, as the department has seen measurable reductions in crime within a one-kilometre radius of installed cameras.
According to Weick, the cost of each camera and its installation typically ranges from $10,000 to $15,000. Because program expansion has not been funded through York Region’s budget, which governs YRP spending, lower-tier municipalities are being asked to cover the initial costs.
Weick said the cameras are most effective at deterring property-related crime, while also supporting investigations and broader public safety efforts. “Timely access to high quality video allows officers to identify suspects, corroborate timelines, and advance investigations more efficiently,” he said.
His presentation also addressed some privacy considerations, noting that camera feeds are not continuously monitored. Footage is passively recorded and retained for approximately 72 hours unless required for an investigation. “Authorized personnel only watch in real time during reported emergencies,” it stated, adding that only publicly accessible areas are monitored and that recording residences “is prohibited.”
The program also operates under the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. “Ultimately, this program supports our shared goal of keeping this community safe while remaining transparent and accountable,” Weick concluded.
While community response on social media has been mixed, Town Staff will review the proposal and report back to Council with options before any decision is made.
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