Mérida’s new surveillance center now has eyes on over 6,700 cameras

Yucatán’s government has opened a new remote surveillance center to oversee the state’s thousands of active security cameras. 

The number of surveillance cameras in Mérida alone was recently announced to have jumped from 2,248 to 6,775.

Significant increases in the numbers of surveillance cameras were also announced for Progreso and Valladolid. 

Yucatán’s government has also invested heavily in cameras along with the state’s busiest highways and roads. 

“People often ask me why we are making such an effort with these technologies if Yucatán is so safe. Well, it’s because we want it to stay that way —  we certainly can’t be complacent,” said Yucatán Gov. Mauricio Vila Dosal.

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Police argue that security cameras have become indispensable tools in their efforts to fight crime in the state.

The cameras have in recent months aided in the arrest of several suspects allegedly connected to a variety of serious crimes involving theft and murder. 

But critics argue that technologies like surveillance cameras are a threat to people’s privacy and are likely to be abused by bad actors.

Last year, police in Mérida announced that they would be starting a pilot program to equip police officers with wearable body cameras.

In 2021, Yucatán has maintained its spot as the safest state in México, according to the INEGI, the federal agency in charge of statistics.