Mounted discreetly on lampposts and blending into the streetscape, York Regional Police closed-circuit television cameras have begun appearing across York Region — and many residents say they are a welcome sight in a year marked by violent crime and high-profile thefts.
One such camera overlooks a busy intersection on Yonge Street in Richmond Hill. Recently installed and lacking signage, it reflects a broader shift in policing strategy as communities respond to home invasions, car thefts and smash-and-grab robberies that unsettled the region throughout 2025.
While many residents pushed back hard against automated speed cameras — viewing them as revenue tools rather than safety measures — there has been far less resistance to police-operated CCTV systems. These cameras can capture licence plates and, more importantly, alert police in real time when vehicles match entries in Ontario’s stolen vehicle database.
York Regional Police rapidly expanded the network this year, growing it from 10 cameras to 38, including 10 installed along major corridors in Vaughan. Yet for local leaders facing public pressure after particularly brazen crimes — including the August killing of Vaughan resident Abdul Aleem Farooqi — the expansion did not go far enough.
Vaughan Mayor Steven Del Duca and city council have pledged to fund up to 10 additional police cameras starting next year, a move described as extraordinary for a municipality.
“These crime-fighting cameras are an effective tool for deterring criminal activity, enhancing public safety, and providing valuable evidence for investigations,” Del Duca said in a statement, adding that they also help increase residents’ sense of security.
Vaughan is also exploring funding for gunshot detection technology, which would allow police to more quickly identify and respond to shootings. Meanwhile, YRP Chief Jim MacSween has signalled plans to further expand surveillance to shopping malls, municipal buildings and major attractions such as Canada’s Wonderland.
Del Duca has also called for cameras to be integrated along Highway 407, describing the toll route as a frequent escape corridor for auto thieves. He said he has raised the idea with both the private highway operator and Ontario Premier Doug Ford.
Whether the expanding surveillance network will deliver long-term results may become clearer in 2026. Police say stolen vehicles often play a role in other crimes and report that violent crime within one kilometre of CCTV locations dropped by an average of six per cent between May 2024 and May 2025.
Regional crime data suggests mixed outcomes. York police reported significant declines in 2024, including a 36 per cent drop in vehicle thefts, a 67 per cent decrease in homicides and an eight per cent reduction in sexual violations. However, assaults and attempted murders each rose four per cent across the region.
Richmond Hill Mayor David West said public safety remains the dominant concern for many residents. While supportive of new tools, he emphasized that local politicians are scrutinizing police requests closely and demanding accountability alongside new investments in surveillance technology.
Standing near a CCTV camera in Richmond Hill’s old village core, close to the Krasman Centre — a drop-in hub for homeless and vulnerable residents often blamed for minor crime — one passerby offered a blunt assessment.
“Big Brother is watching everybody,” he said, with a shrug.
