From neighbourhood requests to digital solutions: Regensdorf is making safety visible with Video Insider
Safety is one of the most important basic needs in public spaces. For the municipality of Regensdorf near Zurich, this means taking responsibility – and breaking new ground. With the cloud-based video surveillance solution Video Insider from Swisscom Secure Vision, Regensdorf is relying on modern technology to effectively tackle vandalism, theft and fly-tipping.
CCTV for the municipality of Regensdorf
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When the neighbourhood takes the initiative
The impetus for the first installation came directly from the local community. A group of committed residents from a residential neighbourhood in Regensdorf had contacted the local council – as the illegal dumping of rubbish in the neighbourhood had become a major nuisance.
The local authority then initiated a series of discussions between the relevant departments and the public. It quickly became clear at the ‘round table’ that the local authority needed an effective tool to document misconduct and ensure compliance with the rules.
“The initiative came directly from local residents – that was crucial. We wanted a solution that was transparent, efficient and sustainable in the long term,” emphasises Karin Lomartire, Head of Security for the municipality of Regensdorf.
Four sites, one concept: a systematic approach to safety
Within just under a year, four sites in Regensdorf were fitted with the Video Insider solution from Swisscom Secure Vision.
It all began with a waste collection point in a housing estate – a place where the problem of illegal waste disposal was particularly evident. This was followed by other locations: perimeter surveillance of a municipal building, the public bicycle storage facility at the railway station, and the waste collection point at the asylum seekers’ centre.
“We wanted to take action in places where people felt unsafe or where misconduct could actually be proven,” explains Lomartire. “Several thefts were uncovered at the public cycle storage facility. Furthermore, users’ sense of security has improved since the introduction of CCTV.”
Illegal waste disposal in the neighbourhood was the catalyst for the partnership between the municipality of Regensdorf and Swisscom Secure Vision (sample image).
Learning from experience – efficiency with every new site
With every new project, our experience and expertise grew. What began as a pilot scheme quickly became a prime example of efficient implementation.
“The first implementation was our ‘icebreaker’. After that, everything ran like clockwork – the partners, the processes, the approvals. We saved an enormous amount of time because the groundwork had already been laid,” says Lomartire.
Greater safety, greater awareness
According to Lomartire, the advantages of the solution are obvious:
- Easy to use thanks to cloud access and centralised management
- Reliable visual evidence for tracking and investigation
- Flexible scalability for future locations
And above all – tangible results: “We were able to confirm or refute assumptions about misconduct in waste disposal, solve cases of theft and even catch a repeat offender three times,” she reports.
Security builds trust
Feeling safe is a privilege that we experience almost every day in Switzerland. Nevertheless, there are incidents that require investigation and clarification.
Regensdorf demonstrates that modern technology not only provides protection, but also builds trust – between the local authority, the public and partners. A local authority that makes safety visible is also a step ahead in terms of communication and community engagement.
