Mexico City has more government video cameras in public spaces than any other city in the Americas. There are more than 83,000 cameras that continuously record the daily life of one of the most populated cities in the world. New York, by comparison, has 71,000.
These devices are distributed throughout 16,460 Video Surveillance Technology Systems (VTS)’s, which make up a total of 48,156 installed cameras. Also known as “C5 poles,” each of these systems can incorporate up to five lenses and a camera with a maximum resolution of up to 4K, which allows for a 360-degree view.
In addition to the VTS’s, there are 17,629 camera-equipped poles. Each one has two cameras installed, an emergency button, and a turret to issue visual and audible alerts in an emergency.
This video surveillance system helps to offer traffic alternatives, to follow up demonstrations or road accidents, and to track robbery suspects in real time. It is a fundamental piece in the security plan promoted by city authorities.
Example of how the C5 CDMX cameras support the pursuit of alleged assailants.
At the end of August, the government of Mexico City announced the purchase of more than 30,000 new video cameras to be installed throughout the city in order to strengthen the video surveillance strategy, as the recordings are a key tool of the Prosecutor’s Office to identify and prosecute suspects and better ensure guilty verdicts in court.
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