Original article can be found here: http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/transport/60-more-locations-to-get-cctv-cameras-to-deter-illegal-parking-from-oct-6

SINGAPORE - Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras will be gradually deployed at 60 more locations to deter illegal parking from Oct 6 2016.

Parking enforcement cameras, in use since April 2014, have cut down parking offences along roads clogged up by rampant illegal parking, the Land Transport Authority said.

There are now 70 places monitored by CCTVs and this will rise to 130 locations by the end of 2017.

Seven new locations have been identified, where the cameras will start operating from Oct 6:

1. Benoi Road (both directions, near FairPrice Hub)2. Joo Koon Circle (Joo Koon MRT, near FairPrice Hub)

2. Lim Teck Kim Road (opposite Genting Centre)

3. Sengkang East Way (near Compass One) and Sengkang Square (near Kopitiam Square & Sengkang MRT/LRT)

4. Woodlands Avenue 3 (Marsiling MRT, both directions)

5. Woodlands Centre Road (before Woodlands Train Checkpoint)

6. Yishun Central Service Road (both sides)

Updates on new CCTV locations will be posted on LTA's one.motoring website.

Traffic conditions have improved at many sites where CCTVs are in use, LTA said.

The daily average number of parking summonses in each area has gone down from 30 to three a day by end 2015, it added.

"Inconsiderate illegal parking can obstruct and prevent vulnerable pedestrians, particularly young children, seniors and users of mobility aids from crossing the road safely," LTA said.

"Illegally parked vehicles can also restrict the vision of other motorists by blocking their view of pedestrians who are crossing the road."

Illegal parking near bus stops endangers the safety of commuters, LTA said.

To identify CCTV monitoring zones, look out for lamp posts or sign posts with bright orange vertical strips.

LTA has also installed "No Waiting" signs at passenger pick-up points with CCTV cameras, such as near Bishan and Clementi MRT stations, to remind motorists that they are not allowed to wait at these pick-up locations.

There are three types of CCTV cameras in the market:

Conventional Analog CCTV cameras

This is a type of CCTV camera which has existed for a long time. These cameras’ resolution is in “TVL” - TV Lines. The video signal is analog. Here is the demo video from conventional analog CCTV camera: CCTV Video Demo of SafeTrolley 1200I Analog CCTV Camera

HD analog CCTV cameras

This is a type of CCTV camera which is to replace the conventional analog CCTV camera. The video image resolution can be 720P, 1080P, etc. The image sharpness is much better than conventional analog CCTV cameras. But it is still considered analog signal. Those commonly seen HD-TVI, AHD, HD-CVI refer to different standards of HD analog CCTV camera. Here is the demo video from HD analog (HD-TVI) CCTV camera: CCTV Video Demo of SafeTrolley HD-TVI CCTV Camera (1080P)

IP CCTV camera

This is fully digitalised CCTV camera. Because of it’s digital nature, compression and decompression is achieve at the camera level. Image quality, sharpness is much greater than conventional analog CCTV cameras, and better than HD analog CCTV cameras. Here is the demo video from IP CCTV camera: CCTV Video Demo of SafeTrolley S-Series HD IP CCTV Camera

Original Article: http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/more-people-taking-aim-at-neighbours-with-cameras. All rights reserved by SPH Singapore.In trying to gather proof of misdeeds, some are flouting rules as permit for their use is required

More HDB residents are turning to closed-circuit television cameras (CCTV Cameras) or wireless IP cameras to monitor their neighbours' misdeeds.

But some of them do not realise they have to first make a police report and get permission from their town council before they can set up such surveillance equipment.

Even then, the cameras can only be used for up to six months before they have to be taken down.

CCTV Camera For Singapore HDB

An officer manning the HDB branch customer service line confirmed that before setting up a CCTV camera, a police report has to be made. The town council should then be informed. Following that, permission from the town council may be obtained.

Said Mr Marvin Poh, public relations manager of the Ang Mo Kio Town Council: "The town council may issue permits for CCTV camera installations for harassment cases after police reports have been made."

The camera, he added, "must only capture the movements or activities happening within the boundaries of the owner's unit". This refers to the immediate area outside a residence, but not into a neighbour's home.

Late last month, Mr Ng Jun Wei, 28, found that a camera perched on his neighbour's window was pointing straight at his door. The undergraduate complained on the Ang Mo Kio Town Council (AMKTC) Facebook page of a violation of privacy.

Days later, his family put up their own camera.

The dispute started four years ago with mutual complaints of noise and has since escalated to claims of harassment and verbal abuse.

Both parties have lodged multiple police reports against each other.

Mediation has not helped.

Mr Ng's neighbour, a housewife in her 40s, said her family got permission for their camera late last month. Mr Ng said he has asked for approval for his camera, and is considering filing for a protection order against alleged harassment.

Criminal lawyer Rajan Supramaniam has seen a 20 per cent rise in residents installing cameras to monitor and gather evidence of misdeeds.

He sees about five to eight cases of neighbour disputes in a month, up from two to three cases a month two years back. He is also a volunteer at Meet-the-People Sessions in Hougang, advising residents on disputes. "There are guidelines that say you should not be pointing a camera into people's bedrooms, or homes. That would be a violation of privacy."

AMKTC bylaws state that written permission is required before anything can be installed on common property. Offenders may be fined up to $1,000.

Mr Supramaniam said cameras are permitted on a temporary basis and have to be removed after an issue is resolved. "The town council may give up to six months for the CCTV camera to be removed."

Such surveillance is also becoming a source of dispute. As of last November, about one in 10 cases before the Community Disputes Resolution Tribunals, a last resort when mediation fails, involved "surveillance" as a cause of complaint. A State Courts spokesman said surveillance includes observing a neighbour's movements in and out of a flat, or using a mobile device to record them.

Mr Supramaniam believes more can be done to raise awareness of the rules, which may prevent situations from escalating. For instance, town council staff could do regular inspections and take action against those without permits, even when there are no complaints.

Steeper fines could be imposed, he added, and notices displayed around neighbourhoods so residents are aware of the regulations.