Written Reply to Parliamentary Question on the Utilisation and Protection of Data from Surveillance Technologies Deployed for Crime Prevention

Question:

Mr Yip Hon Weng: To ask the Minister for Home Affairs with the increase in deployment of surveillance technologies for crime prevention (a) how will the captured data be utilised; (b) how will the data be protected from theft or misuse; (c) whether there are specific physical areas where surveillance technologies will not be deployed to; and (d) how will the Ministry address the concerns of those who feel that their privacy is being invaded.

Answer:

Mr K Shanmugam, Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for Law:

1.   Police cameras (PolCams) are deployed in public places such as public residential estates, neighbourhood centres, hawker centres, commercial and entertainment districts, to deter and solve crimes. PolCams have helped the Police to solve more than 5,000 crimes since 2012 and surveys show that people feel safer with PolCams in their neighbourhood.

2.   In the deployment of PolCams, the Police seek to address the broader interests of public safety and security, while respecting the privacy of private spaces. PolCams are therefore deployed at locations which only cover public spaces.

3.   There are strict data protection safeguards and controls on the access and use of information obtained through PolCams. The data is securely stored and protected, and only authorised persons are given access. Any person found accessing the footage for unauthorised purposes will be severely dealt with.