Security Cameras - What You Should Know
History
In 2020 a group of neighbors began to evaluate a strategy to provide security cameras for Barrington Hall. This involved identifying camera options, evaluating feasibility of obtaining resident funding support, developing an organization to provide operational leadership and selling the concept to residents. Early in 2021 these efforts resulted in the creation of Barrington Hall Neighborhood Association and generated enough support to install 3 license plate reading cameras for the front and back entrances of the neighborhood. As support for the camera network increased, it allowed for the addition of a video surveillance camera at the 3-way stop on Barrington Hall Drive in 2024.
Flock Safety
It was decided that we work with a young company whose concept was to provide full service license plate reading security cameras under an annual license agreement. Their initial target audience was apartments, condominiums and integrated neighborhood developments. However, they quickly realized that their product could also be a solution for cities and counties. Ultimately they created the ability to allow any client to share their camera network with any other client and now have become the largest provider of networked camera systems in the world.
BHNA and Bibb County Sheriff's Office
Early in 2024 we learned the BCSO was in the process of installing over 100 Flock Safety cameras throughout the county and were interested in adding our cameras to their network. We quickly agreed and Flock Safety facilitated the connection. Today the BCSO routinely accesses our BHNA cameras over 60+ times per day and many of these searches are for Hot List vehicles that are suspected of being involved in criminal activities. In addition, we are one of 5300+ Flock Safety networks in Georgia that BCSO can access!
Benefits to Barrington Hall
Our cameras capture over 3300 vehicle tag every day on average. Over 1600 of these vehicles have unique tag numbers. Knowing that the BCSO is immediately aware of vehicles entering our neighborhood that are on the Hot List provides a safety net that we could have never anticipated when we entered our relationship with Flock Safety! Also, every BSCO patrol car will eventually have real time access to every camera participating in the Flock Safety network.
Anyone in Barrington Hall that observes or is impacted by criminal activity and knows the tag number of a vehicle involved can report this to the BCSO by calling 911. The BCSO has informed us that our cameras have been invaluable in resolving multiple incidents that have occurred in our neighborhood just this year!
Surveillance Camera and Resident Reporting
The addition of our surveillance camera gives us the opportunity to identify vehicles that speed through the 3-way intersection. The BCSO has assured us that they will make contact with the owner of any vehicle that we have video evidence to support reckless driving. However, we need everyone in Barrington Hall that observes reckless driving, wherever it occurs in the neighborhood, to email president@bhneighbor.com with the tag number (if possible), detailed description of the vehicle, exact time and nature of the behavior. We can research the past 30 days to determine if other incidents have been captured because we know every time a vehicle enters or leaves. Having the surveillance camera provides the ability for all of us to help reduce the risk that comes with speeding and reckless driving in Barrington Hall.
Who Pays for Cameras?
Our cameras are funded entirely by dues paying Members of Barrington Hall Neighborhood Association. Our dues are $75 annually based on our current membership of approximately 150 residents. Each year we lose some members who move from the neighborhood or other reasons. We must always have New Members to compensate. Please consider becoming a member for 2025 by clicking here.