Surveillance: Delta Occupational Safety Bill Passes Second Reading

The Delta State Occupational Safety Bill has scaled through the second reading on the floor of the Delta State House of Assembly.

The proposed law will make it mandatory for the installation of surveillance cameras in public places to aid crime prevention and investigation.

Opening debates on the merits of the Bill, the Majority Leader Tim Owhefere, named hotels, shopping malls, supermarkets, public and private offices, eateries, motor parks,  cinemas, petrol stations, among others as some of the said public places.

Hon Owhefere who represents Isoko North Constituency in the House, noted that the proposed law which was forwarded to the house for legislative actions by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, required that owners of public places must procure and install the prescribed surveillance camera.

He said the cameras would be installed or mounted to capture the view from both the inside, outside and the surrounding premises where they are mounted.

According to the Majority Leader, footages taken by the cameras shall be used for the purpose of crime detection and prevention as well as investigations when the need arose.

Example of a Surveillance Camera (Credit: Google)

Hon Owhefere explained that failure to procure and install the Smart Surveillance Cameras, is liable to and offense and punishment by jail terms or options of fine or both.

The Majority Leader expressed optimism that the proposed law would help to bring sanity to public places in the state.

In their contributions the Member Representing Oshimili North, Pat Ajudua, Uvwie, Solomon Ighrakpata, and Ika North East, Anthony Elekeokwuri said apart from ensuring sanity in public places, the Bill would ensure that activities in public areas are recorded for security purposes.

They said a major provision of the Bill recommended a five hundred thousand naira fine, or two years jail term for persons who disobeyed the law by refusing to install surveillance cameras, adding that any business premises which flouts the law will be sealed.

The Lawmakers stated that the bill apart from making it compulsory for public places owners to install such cameras, it also empowers individuals, who have the means to install such cameras in their private residence to do so in order to check crimes.

Honorables Ajudua, Ighrakpata and Elekeokwuri, while commending the Executive for initiating the bill, noted that the evidence has been a major challenge facing crime detection and prevention in the country.

The  Oshimili North, Uvwie and Ika North East Representatives emphasized that bill when passed and signed into law would help to secure the lives and security of the people as well as aid police investigations.

The bill, which was unanimously adopted when it was put to a voice vote by the Speaker, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, was referred to the House Committee on Peace and Security for further legislative actions.