Right now, a national project is underway in the police to increase camera surveillance in places where many crimes are committed and which many people feel unsafe.

Thomas Redlund at the Eskilstuna police shows a surveillance camera. Photo: SVT

Along the entertainment lane

In Jönköping, the police will in 2020 set up cameras in eleven places along the entertainment district in Jönköping where there are many people. The places to be monitored are Västra Storgatan, Trädgårdsgatan and Piren.

But even at Öxnehaga, cameras will be set up in 13 places.

- We have looked at crime statistics and the perceived unrest and then it is these two areas that stand out, says Thomas Redlund.

In central Jönköping, the police will have eleven camera points with 1-5 cameras at each point.

- To cover an area, we may need to have several lenses, to guard a square, for example, explains Thomas Redlund.

In addition to increasing security, the police hope that the surveillance films will also be able to help clear up crimes.

Help with ongoing police action

The cameras should be able to be controlled from the police command centers and some cameras can zoom in over a hundred meters away.

- It can also be a help in an ongoing event so that we can get an idea of ​​what it looks like at a place before the patrols have arrived, says Thomas Redlund.

The film material will be stored for 62 days and may become important supporting evidence in criminal cases.

Thirteen places on Öxnehaga must be monitored by the camera. Photo: SVT

But isn't there a risk that there will be too many cameras out in the community?

- We must always protect the integrity, of course. It must also weigh heavily when we look at the expansion of the camera surveillance. There must be a special need for camera surveillance at a specific location, says Thomas Redlund.