Business CCTV Registry
The Kelowna RCMP, in partnership with the City of Kelowna, has launched a new Business CCTV Registry program. This stems from a recommendation of the Mayor’s Task Force on Community Safety and is designed to support quicker, more efficient police investigations when a crime occurs near a business.
The program provides businesses with a straightforward way to voluntarily register their security cameras, enabling police to quickly identify where video footage may be available following an incident. By giving officers a head start and creating a network of cameras, the program supports faster, more efficient investigations.
RCMP note that even a few hours saved can have a significant impact on the outcome of an investigation. Instead of spending valuable time the next day going door to door to locate potential video evidence, officers can immediately see which businesses are registered and begin collecting footage without delay. By streamlining access to potential video sources, the Business CCTV Registry will help to reduce delays, support stronger case-building, and ultimately strengthen community safety. Businesses maintain full control of their systems and footage; registration simply informs investigators that a camera is present and that footage may be available if requested.
The City and RCMP have been working together for some time to develop a reliable, easy-to-use system that supports both security and privacy best practices.
This initiative reflects our continued commitment to practical, evidence informed safety improvements and to supporting the business community with tools that make a real difference in day-to-day operations.
The registry strictly complies with the BC Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. Information is securely hosted by Forrest Green, a trusted third-party technology partner. Police access registry data only for investigative purposes and do not share personal information externally.
No. The Kelowna RCMP does not have direct access to your camera or video footage via the registry. The only information available through the registry is the information you provide: your name, address, telephone number, the fact that you have cameras, what directions they face, and how long video footage is saved on the device.
Your information will be uploaded to a secure registry and will only be used by the Kelowna RCMP for the purpose of contacting you regarding video footage you may have that can assist in an investigation. No other police agency has access to this personal information.
The registry is hosted by Forrest Green Solutions Ltd. In London, Ontario. Their only access to information in the registry is as a service provider to the Kelowna RCMP.
Police will most often call the phone number you supplied when registering to request video. In some instances, they may attend your business or send you an email from their RCMP affiliated email address.
If your video is used in court, police must disclose to the prosecutor who it was received from and where it was obtained.
If you move or remove the video camera from your business, the information will remain in the registry until you log into the registry account and change/withdraw the information. If you want to remove yourself from the registry you can do so at any time.
The video you choose to share with the Kelowna RCMP may be kept as evidence and entered as an exhibit in court in the event the video footage is needed to support an investigation.
No, you are not obligated to provide any video. This is a voluntary program, and you can decline a request for video footage at any time.
If you want to remove yourself from the registry you can do so at any time.
