After the criticism against camera surveillance - meeting in Umeå tonight

Since January, the City Hall Square, the center of Ålidhem and Östra Ersboda center in Umeå have been monitored by the camera. The reason, according to the police, is to reduce crime and increase security. The cameras are up for trial through March 31.

Mahmoud Chninou, chairman of the Social Democratic Association Ersboda and project manager at the Ersboda People's House, is critical to the monitoring of Ålidhem and Östra Ersboda.

- It will be a designation of certain residential areas. Certainly, there are challenges here, but what we need is to meet so we can discuss the issues together, he says.

Tonight, Ersboda People's House, Umeå Municipality and the police are holding a joint meeting to discuss whether camera surveillance leads to increased security.

- It is clear that there are advantages to camera surveillance - in the law enforcement part of the police work. But the cameras themselves do not prevent crime, says Mahmoud Chninou (S).

He believes that drug sales, which the police state as a reason for surveillance, will be done in places other than the center.

- Will drug sales move into the stairwells instead? These are the questions we need to answer, which is why we have the meeting tonight.

- We have informed about this, but of course we could have done more. I can be self-critical and say that, says Michael Rystedt, head of the local police area of ​​Umeå.

He agrees that drug sales run the risk of moving to places other than where the camera is located, but there may be benefits nonetheless.

- If the crime disappears from the center, it can be perceived as safer for those who often pass by there.

Michael Rystedt believes that camera surveillance has become more common today.

- Now cameras are everywhere, in stores and at gas stations. Some feel safe from cameras and others are insecure. But if the police can move on in an investigation thanks to surveillance cameras, it is probably positive, he says.

Hear what Mahmoud Chninou (S) is critical of in the clip above.