Wait on for eagle’s eye,cops use hand-held cameras

Incidentally,this was the first time that hand-held cameras were used to keep vigil at public events.

Joint Commissioner of Police Atul Karwal said the CCTV project may take six months or more before it becomes fully operational.

“We have to invite the dealers and see the demonstrations of the cameras. Based on the products and the response we receive during the demo,we will fine tune the order. We need to asses what cameras will suit us in the cities,” he said.

He added: “CCTV cameras were installed in Vadodara,but they only have fixed focus lenses. In Ahmedabad,we need cameras that can not only focus on one intersection but other roads and areas connected to that place and give us a broader and better view of the movements. We have finished the first draft of the project and the entire procedure will take another six months or more.”

Meanwhile,police in the major cities have been asked to use hand-held cameras for major events,though ground personnel say they are of little help.

Inspector BM Vasava,who was present with a lensman during the civic elections said: “These cameras are good,but they cannot give an overall view like a CCTV. These cameras are used for videography,but CCTVs are like hidden cameras that capture the minutest of movements. They provide a much better vigil in the areas compared to any hand-held devices.”

Inspector JM Gadhvi from Ellisbridge police station said: “For the first time,we were given hand-held cameras to videograph events. They are useful to keep records,but they cannot give a perfect vigilance like CCTVs. Moreover,they are visible,so troublemakers can manage to evade the lens. These cameras are good only for recording festivities.”