No evidence cameras around Acadia University deterred bad student behaviour, report says
Decline in nuisance reports linked to better collaboration between town, RCMP and university, officials say
Video cameras installed in the residential area around Acadia University for a two-year pilot project didn't have any obvious effect on property crime and student partying, according to a report from Town of Wolfville staff.
The surveillance cameras were mounted at 11 locations in the streets surrounding the Wolfville, N.S., university in 2022 due to escalating complaints from residents, with the hopes the presence of the equipment would deter bad behaviour and increase accountability.
"I think maybe it just didn't meet our expectations," Jennifer Ingham, Wolfville's deputy mayor, said in an interview.
There's no concrete evidence the cameras were a deterrent and when incidents did occur, "footage captured was not helpful in holding any individual accountable for their behavior," the staff report said.
Despite this, the town said property crime, the theft of street signage and overall nuisance calls have decreased since 2022.
Restrictions on public gatherings related to the COVID-19 pandemic made it difficult for students to be social, Ingham said, but once those restrictions were lifted, there were fewer issues with large gatherings spilling out into the residential streets.
Better collaboration between the municipality, the university and RCMP have also gone a long way in keeping the peace, she said.
"I think the partnerships are just working really well at the present moment," she said.
Collaborative approach
The RCMP are taking a more collaborative approach to preventing problems between students and residents in the neighbourhood surrounding Acadia, said the top Mountie for the area.
"What we've done in recent years is we have made sure to involve partners more in the planning process," said Staff Sgt. Ed Nugent, commander of Kings District RCMP.
Nugent said the Mounties do have an increased presence in the residential area next to the school during significant events like homecoming celebrations, but a large part of mitigating any issues is being proactive.
The force is in constant consultation with the university, student organizations and even landlords, he said.
Mounties work directly with the town's compliance officers when they know a big event is happening, Nugent said.
"I think it's safe to say that we've built and strengthened our relationships greatly with the town and we currently enjoy a really good working relationship," he said.
The vast majority of students and young people in the community are great to deal with, Nugent said.
Wolfville's mayor also gave credit to the students for being a part of the solution.
"Kudos to their majority in responsible partying," Jodi MacKay said at council's committee of the whole meeting on Wednesday. "I think we've come a long way."
Councillors voted unanimously at the meeting to not continue the video surveillance project.
A final decision on the matter will be made at the next regular council meeting.
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