Prilep and Bitola will soon be added to the "Safe City" camera system, announced Aleksandar Janev, director of the Bureau for Public Security, during a visit to the Prilep police department. The expansion is meant to cover more than 40 locations in the Bitola police region, including the town of Prilep.

"Soon" in this case means: the project documentation is being prepared, and implementation is expected to begin "in the coming months". How much the expansion will cost, who will build it, and when the cameras will actually start working - none of that is in the announcement.

Janev says the system isn't only about traffic. According to him, "Safe City" will be used to detect and prevent crime, secure evidence for court proceedings, maintain public order and protect urban infrastructure, and it will be upgraded with additional tools in future. He pointed out that the number of road deaths is falling and urged drivers to respect the rules and road signs.

The announcement came during the same visit in which Janev spoke about the major operation against an organised group in Prilep. If the cameras really are meant for crime and not just for speeding, the question is simple: will anyone watch the footage with the same zeal with which the fines are written? And who will be keeping the data from 40 new locations?