City of Birmingham Implements Video Surveillance System

At least 50 of the cameras will have license plate recognition capabilities, according to WBRC. The station also reported that the cameras should be able to work with Birmingham’s gunfire detection ShotSpotter system.

• By Jessica Davis
• Sep 21, 2018

Birmingham, Alabama, plans to cut down on violent crime by installing almost 100 surveillance cameras as part of a public safety program.

Birmingham’s Public Safety Committee has approved a pilot program to implement video surveillance in four areas of the city that experience high crime rates.

"Obviously we have some quality of life issues that deal with gun fire and violent crime in the city of Birmingham and this is one more tool that we’ll be able use that our police department will be able to use to help them in their constant daily fight to help make Birmingham a more livable city,” said District 2 city councilman Hunter Williams, who also chairs the public safety committee.

At least 50 of the cameras will have license plate recognition capabilities, according to WBRC. The station also reported that the cameras should be able to work with Birmingham’s gunfire detection ShotSpotter system.

The system of cameras will be monitored by the metro area crime center and will cost the city more than $650,000 a year to operate. The cameras are part of the Alabama Power Smart Cities initiative and will be maintained by Alabama Power.

If approved by the City Council, the video surveillance system could be online in the next 90 days.