Sassari is under video surveillance and safe with citizen participation . A project aimed at distributing cameras throughout the area was presented this morning at Palazzo Ducale.
"We inherited the project from the previous administration," says Mayor Giuseppe Mascia, "but it passed most of the costs onto the citizens. We want to change that paradigm. For us, participatory video surveillance represents a form of sharing with the people of Sassari."
The previous project foundered due to various difficulties, and now a new attempt is being made with the publication of a call for expressions of interest, accessible starting today on the Municipality's website and open for 60 days . It will be open to private individuals, residents, businesses, private associations, public entities, and others, seeking applications for the voluntary provision of a physical location for the installation of the cameras. The Municipality will provide the equipment, software licenses (currently 70), and data connection.
"We would like to point out that the cameras," emphasizes Giuseppe Masala, Councilor for Technological Innovation, "remain the property of the municipal administration." The €100,000 funding will be used to activate 70 cameras in addition to the 150 already in place.
The expression of interest, published today and which will remain active for 60 days, will be accessible on the Municipality's website.
"We will make qualitative, not quantitative, assessments," says Alberto Mura, director of the sector. That is, we will prioritize areas not already covered by video surveillance. The applicant will be required to install the cameras, which are very affordable, and provide electricity, with an estimated cost of approximately 30 euros per year.
The agreement signed with the municipal administration will last five years, with the possibility of extension. The equipment to be installed, in addition to the video camera, is an all-in-one box, designed by municipal engineer Marco Vargiu. "The local police," says Municipal Police Commander Gianni Serra, "will be in charge of managing these cameras."
The administration ensures maximum privacy for the use of the images and clarifies with Councilor Masala that a project, funded by the Region with 250 thousand euros, for the installation of an additional 70 cameras is nearing completion.
