Detroit launches gas station anti-crime program

In a new effort to tackle crime and insecurity at Detroit's gas stations, the city's Mayor Mike Duggan has launched “Project Green Light Detroit,” an anti-crime program which includes real-time camera connections.

The Detroit Police Department (DPD) has partnered with eight gas stations that have installed HD cameras connected to police headquarters as part of a crime-fighting partnership between local operators, the City of Detroit and community groups called “Project Green Light Detroit.”

"This is going to be the new standard of technology in this city,” said Mayor Mike Duggan at a news conference reported by Detroit Free Press.

"We'll have more cops on the street, but if we don't do something differently, we're not going to change the trajectory,” he added.

Apart from the high-definition cameras, which will be live streamed to police forces, the program also requires gas station owners improving the lighting in their facilities and making any infrastructural changes necessary for customer security.

Beginning on March 1st of 2016, DPD and the City will expand Project Green Light Detroit to additional gas stations and other local businesses open late into the evening in the City of Detroit, said the organizers of the programs on their website.

The gas stations which are part of the safety program will have external “Project Green Light Detroit” signage so customers can identify them as project partners.