A system designed to deter crime in the heart of Greater Sudbury is getting a major upgrade.
The “Eye in the Sky” is a network of 17 closed-circuit television cameras that monitor the streets of downtown Sudbury 24 hours a day, so there's always someone, or at least something, watching.
Paul Notman is Manager, Management Information Systems for Greater Sudbury Police Service.
"We've solved a lot of crimes. We also actively monitor situations as they're unfolding. So, if there's a disturbance in the downtown, the cameras will be focused on that." said Notman.
When it launched, it was the first CCTV system of its kind in the province, and soon, it'll be able to see a lot more clearly.
By the end of the summer, each “eye” will be replaced with a new wireless, high-definition camera that can catch the smallest detail from many blocks away.
Police say it's had a dramatic effect on crime and even though many still see the area as unsafe, downtown businesses have, for the most part, embraced the eye in the sky.
Maureen Luoma is the Executive Director of Downtown Sudbury BIA.
"Helping to find lost children, helping to find or provide assistance to someone who's in distress, someone who can't get into their vehicle." said Luoma.
Vicki Jacobs is the owner of Copy Copy.
"I was previously located on a street downtown in which there was no eye in the sky. And when I moved here, I noticed an immediate decrease in property crimes." said Jacobs.
Carol Roy owns Old Rock Café.
"Knowing that there's someone else watching over our business is amazing, yeah." said Roy.
Betty-Ann Serre owns Kuppajo Espresso Bar.
"The more eyes out there, the better we are." said Serre.
But like all mass surveillance systems, there are concerns over privacy.
One group CTV News spoke to in the downtown area says that because of where the cameras are located, they unfairly target the disadvantaged.
One person even said they serve as a tool to criminalize poverty.
None of them, however, wanted to say that in front of our camera.
Police say they have safeguards in place.
If police want to add another camera, it requires approval from the privacy commissioner with crime statistics to justify it.
The footage is saved, but only for 72 hours, and then it's erased.
Many are quick to point out, if you venture outside of your home in 2018, chances are there are eyes watching.
