Winnipeg buses get new surveillance cameras

Over the past two months, about a quarter of Winnipeg transit's buses have been equipped with new digital video security cameras.

City council approved a plan last April to outfit all 535 buses with the new surveillance equipment. There are now more than 130 operational buses in Winnipeg being monitored.

The camera-equipped buses are not working any particular routes but are rotating throughout the system, said Dave Wardrop, director of Winnipeg Transit.

Wardrop said every bus in the fleet should have the equipment installed by the end of 2009, at a cost of just under $3 million.

Winnipeg police spokesman Const. Jason Michalyshen called the equipment "a very useful tool for investigations."

Wardrop said there are an average of 30 driver assaults and 50 passenger incidents aboard Winnipeg buses every year. He hopes that number will drop thanks to the deterrent effect of cameras.

All cameras are equipped with microphones to record sound as well.