A provincial civil-rights watchdog is warning the City of Kamloops against installing cameras on its transit buses.

The B.C. Civil Liberties Association (BCCLA) said it is opposed to security cameras on buses, suggesting there are a whole host of problems with them.

The association argues the devices are expensive to maintain, ineffective and invade privacy.

“The best they do is displace crime from one place to another,” BCCLA executive director David Eby told KTW.

“They don’t prevent it from happening,”

This week, city council approved a letter of support to BC Transit in its request to the province’s privacy commission to allow video recording on transit vehicles.

BC Transit has been testing security cameras on buses in Victoria for two years and is now looking to expand the program to all municipalities, but will need approval from the commission.

The BCCLA said it is concerned about the “creep” of cameras in society and recommended that, if the city is having crime problems, it is best to have people or police deal with issues.

Eby said evidence from England, a country considered to have the most security cameras in the free world, backs up the argument that crime has not been reduced by cameras.

A report to city council maintains the goal of the video recording will be to reduce costs associated with claims and vandalism.

Some on city council expressed concern with offering their support, mostly about being tied to the cost of installing and maintaining the devices.

If BC Transit gets the thumbs-up from the privacy commission, the city would be responsible for a portion of the cost if it does install the cameras.

Council gave its support only after it was assured by staff the letter gave them a choice at a later date to decline.

Pat Wallace said she isn’t put off by having cameras on city buses, noting she doesn’t believe bus drivers are treated well.

“I think we err if we don’t support letting the commission look at this to protect the driver and the public,” she said, adding her support is conditional, pending the outcome of a financial report on the issue.

Denis Walsh, the lone councillor to vote against the letter of support, said his biggest objection is the cost.

However, he said he also has a fundamental objection to cameras and argued they are not needed on Kamloops buses.

“I don’t think [BC Transit] proved that there is a need for them yet in Kamloops,” Walsh said.

“If there was a fundamental need and safety issues with the driver, I probably would support it.”