Big Brother is not watching you: busting myths about the CCTV registry

November 17, 2025 - City of Prince George, British Columbia
From: Prince George RCMP

Content

As part of Prince George RCMP’s “See Something, Say Something” campaign, which aims to encourage and empower people to report crime, PG RCMP is highlighting the CCTV registry available in Prince George, including busting myths about how this valuable community safety tool is used by police.

The CCTV registry launched in 2022 as a partnership between the City of Prince George and the Prince George RCMP and is a way for residents and businesses to indicate to law enforcement they have video surveillance at their location.

“The CCTV Registry allows you to proactively participate in the enhancement of your community’s public safety by confidentially and voluntarily registering your surveillance recording camera(s) with the City of Prince George,” says Kent MacNeill, City bylaw services manager.

When a crime occurs, police officers spend a lot of time going door-to-door asking for relevant video surveillance. The CCTV registry allows police officers to see where video cameras are located and approach those homes or businesses directly if they have reason to believe the video surveillance from those locations could be useful in investigating a crime.

So how does this tie into the “See Something, Say Something” idea?

“This is a proactive way of ‘saying something’ to police before a crime even happens! By registering your home or business with the CCTV registry, investigators can focus their attention on those places that may have information relevant to an ongoing investigation,” states Corporal Jennifer Cooper, Media Relations Officer for the Prince George RCMP.

Keep reading below to see how we’ve busted some common myths about the CCTV registry:

Myth: The CCTV registry is a way for law enforcement to watch what I’m doing!

Fact: You are only registering the location of your camera(s) and your contact information. You are not providing the City with direct access to your camera(s) or video footage.

Myth: Law enforcement can access my video surveillance if I sign up!

Fact: If law enforcement determines that you may have video evidence relevant to a public safety incident investigation, they will contact you directly using the contact information you provided when registering. Your registration information is reserved for official use by the City of Prince George and will not be released by the City unless required for an active investigation.

Myth: Law enforcement will have access to all my personal information!

Fact: The information you voluntarily register (your contact information and camera location details) will be confidentially managed by the City of Prince George and securely shared with law enforcement for the sole purpose of identifying potential recorded video footage related to a law enforcement investigation. The City of Prince George has safeguards in place to protect your personal information against such risks as unauthorized access, collection, use, disclosure or disposal.

Head over to the City of Prince George’s website to register your home or business today!

Related products

• PGRCMP launches “See Something, Say Something” campaign to encourage crime reporting | Royal Canadian Mounted Police
• See Something, Say Something: your guide to reporting crime in Prince George | Royal Canadian Mounted Police

Associated links

• CCTV Registry Program | City of Prince George

Contacts