Fifty-eight police lockups nationwide have been installed with closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras to enhance security of the detention control system.

Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) Management Department director Zulkifli Abdullah said all the CCTV cameras installed were not only able to record images, but also would alert police personnel on duty through its alarm system, if any visual of suspicious movements were detected.

He said among the activities that could be detected through the CCTV cameras were suicide attempt, escape attempt, sexual assault, outsider attacks as well as police personnel behaviour.

"It will alert the security personnel at the control centre and will help officers to easily observe, track, and monitor all the detainees, with minimum needs for lockup officers to make rounds," he told a press conference after attending a briefing on the Smart Lockup in Kuala Lumpur today.

He said the CCTV installation would also improve the image and integrity of PDRM especially when untoward incidents befell any detainees.

He said the installation of the CCTV system, which was developed by the Malaysia Institute of Microelectronic Systems (Mimos) had involved a total cost of RM3.5 million and the Jinjang Centralised Lockup Centre in Kuala Lumpur was chosen for the pioneer project.

The project, which had been developed since 2013, is a collaboration between the PDRM and the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry through Mimos and the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam), with installation work started last year.

- Bernama