Waterloo Police Rolling Out City-Wide Surveillance, Starting With 52 Cameras in Phase One

A regionwide surveillance upgrade is coming as WRPS moves ahead with the deployment of 52 CCTV and ALPR cameras. Here’s what the system will do, what it won’t do, and how police plan to manage privacy and access.

The Waterloo Regional Police Service is preparing to launch a wide network of CCTV cameras equipped with Automated License Plate Recognition technology, marking one of the region’s largest surveillance expansions to date. The first phase includes 52 cameras across 10 locations, with deployment expected to begin between late 2025 and early 2026. The initiative is designed to support investigations, deter crime and improve public safety through enhanced evidence collection.

WRPS says camera locations are being selected using historical crime data analyzed by the Service’s Crime Analysis Unit. The goal is to position the cameras where they will provide the greatest investigative and crime-prevention value. A full list of locations will be published before the system is activated.

According to WRPS, the cameras will function primarily as investigative tools. The CCTV units will record activity in public areas, while the ALPR component will automatically scan license plates and alert officers when a plate is associated with an authorized investigation, including stolen vehicles, suspended drivers or plates linked to serious offences. Police emphasize that the system does not record vehicle speeds and will not be used for automated speeding enforcement.

The expanded network comes with strict rules governing privacy, access and data retention. WRPS has conducted a Privacy Impact Assessment to ensure compliance with Ontario’s Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. Footage not tied to investigations is generally retained for about 30 days before being deleted, and all data is encrypted and stored on secure Canadian servers.

Access to both live and recorded footage is limited to authorized police members with a lawful investigative purpose. WRPS says there will be no continuous 24-hour live monitoring except under circumstances approved through established internal procedures. The system also records and audits every instance of access. Although the technology includes optional facial-recognition capabilities, WRPS states that the feature is currently disabled.

Residents seeking access to footage must request it through the WRPS Access to Information Unit under provincial privacy legislation.

To support transparency, WRPS has held public information sessions and will install signage at camera locations, including QR codes linking to program details. The Service says the 52-camera rollout is the first step in a broader, multi-phase safety and investigative strategy scheduled to expand in the coming years.