Cameras to be placed in Tel Aviv beaches

New plan has security cameras placed in city's 13 beaches. Footage to be accessible to general public on special internet site, as well as to security guards

Yoav Zitun|Published: 05.25.11 , 15:38

A Tel Aviv municipal company is scheduled to approve a budget for a beach security plan on Thursday. Following successful endeavors in Tel Baruch and Jerusalem, Atarim plans to place security cameras in the city's 13 beaches which will document events 24/7.

The footage will be transferred to a special control room which will be set up in the Tel Aviv Port compound. The footage will also serve the police in investigating events of a criminal nature. The cameras will not be concealed and signs will be posted near them.

The footage will also be accessible to the general public. The company is planning to set up an internet website where surfers can see what is going on in beaches by watching a live broadcast, Ynet learned.

Sources in Atarim said that this way residents could decide which beach to go to. Some will naturally use the cameras for other purposes.

Tel Aviv beach. Watch from home (Archive photo: Niv Kalderon)

The installation of the cameras is scheduled to be completed within a year. The company also plans to install lockers at the beaches and deploy police officers during the weekends.

Beach-goers will be able to rent lockers for NIS 10 shekels and will be required to deposit their IDs in the beach cafeteria.

Atarim CEO Itamar Shimoni said: "Our goal is to end the pickpocket phenomenon and make beaches a safe place for young people and families to enjoy. I am sure any dodgy character will think twice before coming near a beach with security cameras and police officers."