An Island-wide network of police security cameras is to be installed starting April 1, police announced yesterday.

The system of 150 cameras, capable of facial recognition and vehicle tracking, will replace the existing array of roughly 86 cameras.

The BAS Group has the five-year contract, taking over from GET Security, according to Acting Police Commissioner Mike Jackman.

The new system will be upgraded as new technology develops and could include features such as Shot Spotter, which recognises and tracks down gunshots.

Acknowledging the public would be curious, Mr Jackman cautioned that police “can’t go into the finer details” of the system’s exact capabilities.

Police see the system as “a crime-fighting tool, not a Big Brother intrusion into the lives of law abiding citizens”, he added.

The wireless system will be linked into networks installed in Hamilton, St George’s and Dockyard.

BAS Serco, one of the nine companies in the BAS Group, will work in conjunction with the Bermuda Police Service to monitor the network from a video wall at the police operations centre in Prospect.

Mr Jackman didn’t provide an exact timetable for when the new network’s installation would be complete, but said installation and monitoring costs will be covered by the company.

The network will cost $112,000 per month to operate.

The company will be held to “a high level of responsibility in terms of off time for the cameras”, Mr Jackman added.

“The use of CCTV cameras both as a deterrent to those who would commit crimes and as an investigative tool after a crime has been committed have been very effective in the past and we will have enhanced capability with the additional cameras and technology,” he said.