The report evaluating camera surveillance in and around the Hilversum entertainment area was written by the person who designed the camera plan itself. The evaluation describes the camera surveillance as ‘very positive’. Tonight, Democrats Hilversum will ask critical questions about this during the city council meeting because they doubt the neutrality of the report.
According to the evaluation report, camera surveillance amply meets the general objective. In this way, ‘open violence against people has been reduced to a minimum’ and it would prevent nuisance and vandalism.
The report also states that cooperation between the police, supervisors, boas and the camera observer is very good. Based on this evaluation, the mayor and aldermen want to extend camera surveillance for a period of five years.
Doubts about neutrality
The report was drawn up by Henny Brunekreef of Brunekreef Consultants on behalf of the municipality. He was chief inspector of police for many years. He subsequently designed the camera plan for entertainment areas in several municipalities as a ‘camera surveillance advisor’, prepared the tender and was responsible for project management of the implementation.
The local party Democrats Hilversum wonders how it is possible that the municipality leaves such a task to Brunekreef. According to councilor Hakan Koç, this is a case of ‘butcher inspects his own meat’. The party therefore doubts the neutrality of the report.
“It’s a case of a butcher inspecting his own meat”
Tonight during the city council, Democrats Hilversum wants to ask technical questions about the report, such as how much the evaluation of Brunekreef Consultants cost and how expensive the camera surveillance was in total. A number of substantive questions about the evaluation report will also be discussed.
Chinese cameras?
The party also asks for insight into the type of cameras that are installed in the entertainment area, as last year the news came out that there are many controversial Chinese cameras in the Netherlands. There are concerns about espionage and human rights violations by the manufacturers with these cameras. It is not yet known whether these are also in the Hilversum entertainment area.
The camera surveillance and the evaluation report will be discussed during the city council tonight.