The Home Ministry is in the midst of formulating a law relating to closed-circuit television camera (CCTV) system to control and expand its use in the country.

Deputy Minister Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed said it was aimed at increasing security, as well as preventing and recording crime at public places, and hence the installation of the system would probably be made compulsory.

He said, at present, the CCTV system was not widely used and was still recording and storing image and visual in a passive way, which could not be processed by the software.

"Therefore, the use of CCTV system which is equipped with the face detection software is better as it will be able to help the police to control a situation and carry out investigations after a crime took place," he told reporters after visiting several police stations here today in conjunction with the 'Jejak Perwira Malaysiaku Negaraku' programme.

He said other specifications would also be set for the installation of the system, namely that it shall be connected to the nearest police station, the image shall be in high definition (HD), and that it shall be equipped with face detection software based on the police or the National Registration Department (NRD) records.

Nur Jazlan said the image and visual recorded by the CCTV system could also be used as solid evidence in court.

-- BERNAMA