Jakarta – National Police spokesman Insp. Gen. Boy Rafli Amar has called for a nationwide implementation of an integrated network of Closed Circuit Television system, or CCTV, to be manned at its headquarters in Jakarta.

If implemented on a large scale, the network will speed up ongoing investigations into various criminal cases, Boy said.

"The CCTV network will be part of a surveillance campaign on public activities. It would be a means to maintain security and collect facts," Boy said in Jakarta on Tuesday (25/04).

"Information is crucial for the police to develop investigations. So, an integrated CCTV network is important for us."

The idea for a country-wide CCTV network came after Novel Baswedan, a senior investigator for the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), suffered injuries stemming from an acid attack.

Novel suffered serious burns to his face after unknown assailants attacked him near his home in North Jakarta earlier this month. Police are still trying to find the suspects involved in the assault.

Boy said the National Police has called on several regional administrations to install CCTV at various public facilities and roads, and to link them with police headquarters in the capital.

"The National Police Chief has called for regional administrations to install CCTV networks. All roads on a housing complex should be monitored with CCTV, and if possible, the network should link up with the central command center in Jakarta," he said.

Several city administrations have begun using CCTV to monitor public activity, including Malang in East Java, Makassar in South Sulawesi and Pontianak in West Kalimantan.

In Jakarta, CCTV cameras have been installed at several locations, though police expect the network will be greatly expanded in the coming months.

"TMC [National Police Traffic Management Center] has been using them, but currently they're only available in 200 locations in the capital," Boy said.

Source: http://jakartaglobe.id/news/police-urge-implementation-nationwide-cctv-network/