The executive of Benin has announced the acquisition of several pieces of equipment for the benefit of the customs and the police. This includes 500 pedestrian cameras, accessories, software and hardware. The initiative, which comes under the heading of “reinforcing the security of people and property”, was taken by the Council of Ministers on Wednesday 1 March 2023.
The Government of Benin, in a meeting of the Council of Ministers on Wednesday 1 March 2023, is considering the acquisition of several pieces of equipment for the Customs and the Police. According to the final statement of the meeting, the total number of cameras is “500 pedestrian cameras, accessories, software and hardware”. The objective is to allow the use of the data produced, in favour of the Police and Customs forces.
“This equipment is intended to strengthen the security of people and property and to prevent incidents during interventions by police and customs officers,” explained the executive, adding that “It will also facilitate the detection of offences and the prosecution of their perpetrators thanks to the collection of tangible evidence, as well as helping in the fight against corruption and better respect for ethics in the police and customs.
In addition, in order to make better use of this equipment, the Minister of Economy and Finance and the Minister of the Interior and Public Security will take appropriate measures to integrate this device into the execution of the missions devolved to their respective services, the minutes of the Council of Ministers state.
This announcement comes one month after a terrible accident on the Cotonou-Parakou road near Dassa-zoumè that left more than 20 people burnt to death on Sunday 29 January. Since then, the executive has been taking measures to prevent such tragedies on the roads.