KUALA LUMPUR: More than 10,000 CCTV cameras across the capital have become a vital tool for police in solving thousands of cases and responding much faster to incidents, says Comm Datuk Fadil Marsus (pic).
The Kuala Lumpur police chief said the extensive CCTV network is part of the city’s smart policing initiative leveraging technology to enhance public safety and law enforcement.
“The presence of CCTV enables police to monitor situations in real time, detect criminal incidents early, identify suspects and channel information more quickly to operational teams on the ground,” he said in a recent interview.
Comm Fadil said the system had significantly improved police response times while enhancing the effectiveness of crime prevention throughout the city.
He added that CCTV footage had played a crucial role in investigations involving robberies, house break-ins, vehicle thefts and violent crimes.
He cited a robbery at a jewellery store in Kuala Lumpur earlier this year where CCTV footage proved effective.
“Through the recordings, police were able to identify the vehicle used by the suspects, which subsequently led investigators to trace and identify those involved in the crime,” he said.
In a shooting case at a nightclub in Bangsar, he said CCTV footage helped investigators identify the suspect who shot and injured a victim following a dispute.
The suspect was subsequently arrested and charged in court.
Comm Fadil also cited the kidnapping of a 12-year-old boy near Jalan Ilmu as another case in which police were aided by technology in their investigations.
“Using CCTV footage and the Intelligent Transport Information System (Itis), police managed to track down the suspect, who was subsequently arrested and charged in court,” he said.
Between Jan 1 and April last year, Comm Fadil said CCTV and surveillance technologies helped police solve 2,045 cases.
A total of 2,187 cases were solved with the aid of CCTV and monitoring systems during the same period this year, he added.
Comm Fadil said surveillance technology also enabled faster information sharing between police units and related agencies.
In the event of a crime, footage is used to identify suspects or vehicles before the information is relayed to operational teams to track and arrest suspects, he said.
“This approach not only accelerates police action but also improves coordination among security agencies and relevant stakeholders,” he added.
On the admissibility of CCTV recordings in court, Comm Fadil said digital evidence is allowed subject to existing legal provisions and proper evidence-handling procedures.
“Every recording or digital material obtained must undergo verification and authentication processes to ensure its integrity before it can be presented in court,” he added.
Despite the benefits of technology, he acknowledged several challenges, such as whether the systems are operational and expanding CCTV coverage in high-risk, densely-populated areas.
“Close cooperation between government agencies, local authorities, utility companies and the private sector remains crucial in enhancing the city’s overall security infrastructure,” he said.
Looking ahead, Comm Fadil said technology would continue to complement, rather than replace, traditional policing.
“Technology is an important enabler, but it cannot fully replace the role of police personnel, particularly in intelligence gathering, investigations, operational response and community engagement,” he said.
Comm Fadil noted that traditional policing and technology would strengthen safety and public order in the city.
