Government authorities in Porto have decided to install 117 video surveillance cameras in the area. These cameras will be installed in the eastern and western regions of Porto. It is expected that this project will be completed by April 2025.
Porto Will Install 117 Video Surveillance Cameras
The municipality of Porto has been given the green light signal from the Court of Auditors. This project was approved on 18 October and the project started the very next day. An official contract was signed which will oversee the completion of surveillance cameras. The contract includes the installation of all the communications network along with the support elements. High-quality video cameras along with support servers will be installed as well. The city hall has stated:
The equipment will be installed for a maximum contractual period of 180 days.
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Ministry Of Internal Administration Approves
A contract for the installation of 117 cameras was immediately finalized after approval from the Ministry of Internal Administration (MAI). This contract was approved just 4 days after the Ministry permitted the expansion of the surveillance system. The Official Gazette has published the order given by the ministry.
This order was planned for quite a while, and it was finally approved on 15 October. The mayor of Porto believes that this was the ‘only thing missing’ in the east and west sides of Porto. That is why the installation of 117 cameras has been executed. The mayor even suggested removing the budget for video surveillance from the 2025 budget if the resolution cannot be signed.
Installation Of Video Cameras Included In Budget 2025
The budget 2025 will have some share for the installation of video cameras. It has been decided that the installation of video cameras will receive 25.9 million Euros for next year’s budget. This budget includes the complete installation, supply of cameras, and maintenance of the complete video monitoring system.
This video monitoring system has been approved under some conditions. These conditions have been highlighted by the National Data Protection Commission (CNPD). The commission has already given two opinions regarding the conditions. They have issued a letter stating these conditions in this regard.
These 117 cameras will be installed in various locations across Porto municipality. The chosen areas for the installation of cameras are the streets of Estádio do Dragão, Diogo Botelho, Asprela, Campanhã, and Pasteleira. Porto has already installed 79 cameras back on 22 June 2023. These cameras were mainly installed in the city center. The installation of cameras in June was a great success. The local authorities can obtain images related to any crime that takes place in or around the city center. So far, 910 criminal cases have been caught on these surveillance cameras. Mayor of Porto, Rui Moreira stated:
Shopkeepers in the Bangladeshi community have been telling us that there have been a number of robberies there, so it would be useful to extend it. As you know, it’s the PSP that has to do the studies on the incidence of crime in a given area so that we can then carry out the contract. The PSP needs to diagnose the danger of crime associated with the area.
An open tender was initiated on 24 July 2023. It inquired about the acquisition and maintenance of the video surveillance cameras. This tender was launched under a collaboration between the municipality and PSP. This tender was awarded back in December to Soltráfego. The contract was signed for 1.9 million Euros.
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