The Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM) announced on Friday, 18 September 2026, that it has acquired four new cameras designed to capture the license‑plate numbers of vehicles as they travel past. The equipment, added to the police department’s existing resources, is intended to record plate information for later use by investigators.
The four units are based on technology similar to that employed by the private company Flock, a system that has been the subject of public debate in recent months. While the SPVM has not detailed the specific locations where the cameras will be installed, the announcement confirms that the devices are now part of the force’s operational inventory.
According to the police department, the cameras function by photographing the alphanumeric characters on vehicle plates in motion. The captured data can be stored and retrieved to support traffic‑related investigations, locate stolen vehicles, or assist in other law‑enforcement activities that require vehicle identification.
Flock’s license‑plate reading system has drawn controversy over concerns about privacy and the extent of surveillance in public spaces. Those discussions have highlighted questions about data retention, access controls, and the balance between security benefits and individual rights. The SPVM’s adoption of comparable technology is likely to be examined within that same context.
The police service has not released further information regarding the operational guidelines, data‑handling procedures, or the timeline for deploying the cameras across the city. Officials indicated that the acquisition aligns with ongoing efforts to enhance investigative capabilities, but they stopped short of providing additional specifics.
The addition of the four cameras marks the latest expansion of automated vehicle‑identification tools in Montreal, reflecting a broader trend among municipal police forces to incorporate advanced imaging equipment into routine policing activities.