"All-seeing eyes" maintain peace at the grassroots level.

Harnessing the power of the people to improve the effectiveness of crime prevention.

The incident happened months ago, but every time she recalls the moment she discovered her daughter had unexpectedly left home, the mother of Ngoc A. (born in 2013), residing in Hat village, Chau Tien commune, still feels worried. On April 15, 2026, while attending 7th grade at a local junior high school, A. dropped out of school and left home without telling her family. Concerned that her young daughter might be in danger traveling alone, the family asked the commune police for assistance in the search.

Initial verification by the police ruled out the possibility of the child being kidnapped, as the family feared. They then focused on reviewing security camera footage in the area to determine the child's movements and discovered the child boarding a sleeper bus to Hanoi. They subsequently determined the child intended to travel to Bac Ninh province to find work. The commune police quickly contacted the bus company and, in coordination with the Hoang Mai ward police, detained the child at the bus stop, dispatched officers to meet the child, and brought her back safely.

A.'s mother shared that when her child lost contact, the family was extremely worried, not knowing where she was. When the police informed them that their child had been found thanks to reviewing CCTV footage in the area, the family was overjoyed and deeply moved. Thanks to the camera system, determining the child's movements was easier, helping the police bring her back safely as soon as possible.

The story above is one of the practical results of the security camera model in Chau Tien commune. Major Pham Hong Nien - Head of Chau Tien Commune Police - said: The model was implemented from the beginning of 2025 in Ban village. At the first village meeting, residents voluntarily contributed 40 million VND to install cameras at two major intersections. Based on the initial results, the model has been gradually expanded; to date, all 11 villages have installed more than 60 cameras from social contributions. The system utilizes the internet connection of households, and images are collected at the commune police station for monitoring and managing the area.

Through monitoring, the police force promptly detected, warned, and dispersed several groups of young people gathering with problematic behavior; at the same time, they assisted in verifying and arresting individuals involved in the illegal trafficking of narcotics, seizing 400 ecstasy pills and 6.2 grams of heroin. In the future, the commune police will continue to advise the local authorities to expand and upgrade the system, aiming towards the application of AI cameras to enhance the ability to monitor, detect, and track suspects.

In Vinh Hung ward, mobilizing the community to build a security camera system has also yielded clear results. Block 23 Nghi Lien, located adjacent to National Highway 1A, next to the North Vinh Bus Station and the Provincial Oncology Hospital, experiences high traffic volume, posing significant challenges in local management and crime prevention.

Based on that experience, the Vinh Hung Ward Police, in coordination with the Block Committee, encouraged residents to install cameras. Although some households were initially hesitant, through propaganda and persuasion, the model gradually gained consensus. To date, the system has 30 cameras in key locations, 2 receivers, and 2 75-inch screens located at the block's cultural center, with a total socialized funding of over 100 million VND.

Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Huu Son, Deputy Head of Vinh Hung Ward Police, shared: "The camera system assists the police force in monitoring the area, detecting unusual signs, and verifying incidents. The extracted images also help to track travel routes, identify suspects and vehicles, and shorten the time for verification and investigation."

This effectiveness was demonstrated in the investigation of the theft of electrical cables at the Nghe An Provincial Oncology Hospital. From June 9th to 20th, 2026, Nguyen Duc Hung (born in 1995), residing in Quan Thanh commune, Nghe An province, and Nguyen Duy Hai (born in 2001), residing in Son Tien commune, Ha Tinh province, committed three thefts, with a total value of nearly 130 million VND. Images from the camera system at Block 23, Nghi Lien helped the police track their movements, follow their tracks, and assist in verifying and arresting the suspects.

Applying technology to improve the quality of local management.

Going beyond conventional surveillance camera systems, some localities are gradually applying new technologies to enhance their ability to detect, warn, and manage their areas.

In Lam Thanh commune, the "Security Camera" model is being implemented according to a roadmap from August 2026 to December 2030, divided into four phases. Currently, the system has 7 AI cameras with functions to support the identification and tracking of subjects and vehicle license plates; it is also integrating an additional 15 existing cameras in areas with potential risks to security, order, and traffic safety. The locality is also gradually building a monitoring center at the commune police station, enhancing the ability to monitor and manage the area.

In Cua Lo ward, another application of technology is the use of long-range AI cameras for managing and monitoring tourism activities. In the Binh Minh Square area, VNPT Nghe An has piloted a dual-spectrum thermal-optical camera system on a pole approximately 20m high, capable of 360-degree horizontal rotation, 56x optical zoom, and supporting day and night observation.

In addition to video recording, the system also integrates intelligent image analysis features. The implementing unit is testing AI with scenarios to detect swimmers entering restricted or dangerous areas; identify large gatherings of people showing signs of fighting or brawling, and issue warnings to authorities. This will support 24/7 beach monitoring, especially during the tourist season and times when there is a high concentration of visitors.

Mr. Nguyen The Son, Deputy Head of the Culture and Social Affairs Department of Cua Lo Ward, said that the system is currently in the pilot phase. The local authorities will coordinate with the implementing unit to evaluate the observation capabilities, accuracy of the AI ​​features, and practical effectiveness. If the model proves effective, the ward plans to study installing more cameras in the Lan Chau Island area and the 72m road leading to the sea, gradually expanding the monitoring scope to ensure the safety of tourists.

Evaluating the construction and effective implementation of security camera models at the grassroots level, Colonel Nguyen Huy Khich - Deputy Director of the Nghe An Provincial Police Department - emphasized that the application of science and technology in ensuring security and order is a necessary requirement, contributing to the innovation of local management methods and improving the effectiveness of crime prevention, detection, and combating.

The comrade suggested that localities continue to build and replicate models suitable to the characteristics of each area; focusing on mobilizing the people's strength, promoting the role of Party committees, government and grassroots police forces in disseminating information and encouraging people to participate. Along with that, it is necessary to ensure technical requirements and synchronized system connectivity; strictly implement regulations on the management, operation, and exploitation of camera data, ensuring that it is used for the right purpose, within the correct authority, and with security and confidentiality of information.

At the same time, regularly inspect and evaluate the effectiveness of operations, promptly correct shortcomings, commend and replicate effective models and practices, contributing to improving the quality of applying science and technology in ensuring security and order at the grassroots level.