White Rock city council is set to discuss Monday implementing CCTV cameras in some of its popular areas.
Based on a report dated July 15 from the chief information office, councillors are being recommended to opt for one of two options.
The first is to consider and direct staff to hire a consultant to work to identify any privacy concerns associated with cameras, and then, following provincial approval, work with a company to implement surveillance cameras in areas like the waterfront. The cameras would be installed as part of a pilot program, to be assessed at a later date.
The other recommendation is to request the RCMP “identify up to three higher-risk strategic locations where CCTV cameras can be installed to monitor any suspicious activity; and staff to provide Council with associated costs.”
The discussion comes after two stabbings, one of them fatal, in the city earlier this year.
On April 21, Jatinder Singh was stabbed in a random attack while sitting with his wife, Manpreet Kaur, on a bench near the White Rock Pier. He was left with serious injuries.
Then, on April 23, the RCMP was again called to the waterfront area for reports of another stabbing. Kulwinder Singh Sohi died as a result of this stabbing.
A suspect, Dimitri Nelson Hyacinth, was charged with aggravated assault following the first stabbing, and then charged with second-degree murder in connection with Sohi’s death.
In the wake of the violence, many people in the community raised concerns about safety along the White Rock waterfront.
In response to concerns, the RCMP said that it was stepping up patrols, with dedicated officers for the area.