Recently, a reader wrote to us:

I wanted to raise the issue of the new cameras on Partyzantów Avenue. Even back when there were no cameras, lots of teenagers gathered there on weekends and made life unbearable for residents. Now that there are cameras, it is even worse; the municipal police do not give a damn, not answering calls, while the police arrive after two hours, when all the kids have already woken up at home.

He added:

My question is: why did the city waste money on unnecessary cameras that are just hanging there? No one reacts when there is a drinking party, bottles are being smashed and fights break out.

We asked Agnieszka Gergont, spokesperson for Bolesławiec City Hall, about the matter. Here is the response:

Bolesławiec Municipal Police report that from 1 December 2021 to 19 February 2022, one report concerning young people [podkreślenie – red.]who were listening to music loudly on Partyzantów Avenue was received. A resident reported it to the Municipal Police on 3 February at 2:20 p.m. Municipal police officers intervened following the report.

Recorded footage from the city’s video-surveillance system shows that groups of people appear at this location most often on Fridays between 7:00 and 10:00 p.m. At the request of surveillance operators, municipal police officers intervened twice. The interventions took place during the Municipal Police’s working hours: on 11 February at 6:00 p.m. and on 17 February at 6:20 p.m.

What accounts for such a small number of municipal police interventions at this location?

Agnieszka Gergont:

Bolesławiec Municipal Police work Monday to Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., and on Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. During these hours, an operator monitors the surveillance system.

Is the city’s surveillance system useless?

Spokesperson:

The purpose of the city’s video-surveillance system is to ensure public order and the safety of people present in public spaces. Cameras are used not only to monitor threats on an ongoing basis and detect crimes, offences, and violations of prohibitions or orders concerning specific conduct in public places, but also serve other functions: they have a preventive effect on potential criminals and help the services identify the perpetrators of crimes or offences, wanted persons, and so on.

She also notes:

Monitoring is a tool supporting the work of the services by making recorded footage available as evidence to authorised entities. Evidence obtained from monitoring helps speed up proceedings in cases involving crimes or offences. Recorded incidents—or the absence of a recorded incident—in the area covered by the surveillance system are an important element in verifying witnesses’ credibility. Surveillance recordings often make it possible to reconstruct the actual course of an incident.

We have spoken with the police about the matter several times. Officers always respond to reports, but often, by the time they arrive, the partygoers are already gone. (Or they scatter when they see the officers.) And we know that it is impossible for the services to patrol one location continuously.

What do you think? Do you have any idea how to help the residents of Partyzantów Avenue? We invite you to join the discussion.

(Photo: archive).