By Lynette Lee Lai Ling, Channel NewsAsia, 30 Aug 2012
Residents in five estates will have surveillance cameras deployed in their estates to curb high-rise littering.
The National Environment Agency (NEA) said in the next three months, the cameras will be mounted on rooftops in 100 locations in Bukit Panjang, Pasir Ris, West Coast, Hong Kah and Sembawang.
Block 174 at Yishun Avenue 7 will be one of the first locations to have surveillance cameras deployed.
NEA said there are more serious littering cases and regular complaints from residents in some parts of these neighbourhoods.
NEA said those caught littering on camera will be charged in court and have their cases publicised.
NEA said the surveillance cameras, together with video analytic software, have proven effective in trials conducted to nab high-rise litterbugs.
NEA said the surveillance cameras, together with video analytic software, have proven effective in trials conducted to nab high-rise litterbugs.
The equipment can pick up items as small as cigarette butts being thrown from windows, even in low light conditions at night.
NEA cited an earlier pilot run in Bukit Batok where two offenders were caught on camera throwing cigarette butts out from their windows at night. They were charged in court and fined S$800 and S$1,000.
NEA cited an earlier pilot run in Bukit Batok where two offenders were caught on camera throwing cigarette butts out from their windows at night. They were charged in court and fined S$800 and S$1,000.
Under the law, such offenders are liable to be fined a maximum of S$1,000 and/or be given a Corrective Work Order (CWO) not exceeding 12 hours.
For new cases of high-rise littering, NEA said the cameras will be deployed after careful assessment of the situation and at least two rounds of educational efforts by the town councils and NEA to exert community pressure on the litterbugs.
Addressing the concerns of privacy, NEA said cameras will only survey the areas near to the window of the unit to capture any act of littering.
Residents of the affected blocks will be kept informed before the deployment of the cameras so that they will be aware. In addition, only authorised personnel will be allowed to view and analyse the video footage.
A resident said: "There was once a guy who threw a packet of curry onto my father's car. And installing a CCTV is a very good initiative to prevent people from throwing rubbish."
Another resident said: "Some residents living upstairs often pour faeces, urine and water out of the window. If we can catch them, it will be good. Now, we don't dare hang clothes out to dry."
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