A radically enhanced CCTV system could increase the peace in Perth city centre.
Plans are being drawn up for an operations headquarters which will use digital cameras to keep revellers safe and cut down on crime.
The new set-up will have tracking technology to target and follow suspects through the area, as well as monitoring large gatherings.
The cameras could also be used to ease congestion on the roads by identifying hazards, such as break-downs or collisions, more quickly.
The operations centre is the latest in a series of so-called Smart projects which are designed to improve life for locals, attract visitors and save council cash.
The CCTV centre scheme, still in its early days, is being set up using a share of £265,000 from the Smart Cities Programme. The full cost of the upgrade has yet to be confirmed.
The project was inspired by a similar surveillance system set up in Glasgow. The Perth scheme will involve upgrading the minor traffic and public safety monitoring centres which are operated in the city by both the local authority and Police Scotland.
A report to councillors states the operations centre “would support the better management of traffic, community safety, public space CCTV, and potentially emergency and resilience functions across the city.
“It would bring improved decision-making through predictive and preventative action.”
The move has been welcomed by city centre Liberal Democrat councillor Peter Barrett. “The next generation of digital CCTV has the potential to revolutionise how our city centre can be made safer,” he said.
“Having a shared operation with the police will deliver efficiencies but the real benefits will be realised thought the software. The ability of CCTV recordings to be interrogated using smart logarithms to identify suspects, or suspects vehicles and track their routes across a network of smart cameras quickly would be a major benefit.
“New software can flag up a variety of alerts from traffic jams to crowded streets which can improve response times to incidents as they happen.”
A local authority spokeswoman said: “The work will take place over 2017-18 and 2018-19 and will invest in the integration of CCTV and other data to better support vulnerable people and promote safer communities.
“The City Operation Centre Project will upgrade public space CCTV in Perth and integrate it with projects such as the city WiFi and smart street lighting to find efficiencies and improve data sharing.”
She added: “This project is at an early stage and is currently developing a specification to modernise the infrastructure which will support this exciting project.”
