AKP Phnom Penh, June 17, 2026 --

Cambodia has switched on a sophisticated urban surveillance network in its capital, integrating facial recognition and automatic licence plate reading into a centralised command hub, as part of a "Smart Police" project funded and supported by China-led regional cooperation.

The Ministry of Interior formally launched the “Lancang-Mekong Regional Smart Policing Development : Video Processing and Analysis System Project in Phnom Penh,” during a handover ceremony on Tuesday.

The system installs 487 CCTV cameras across Phnom Penh, equipped with AI-driven software capable of real-time identity and vehicle tracking. All feeds are routed to a new Command Centre designed for rapid emergency response and continuous urban monitoring.

Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister H.E. Abhisantibindit Sar Sokha said the technology directly supports the Royal Government’s strategy to protect both residents and foreign tourists, modernising law enforcement under Prime Minister Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet's security directives.

H.E. You Xiaowen, Secretary-General of the Lancang-Mekong Integrated Law Enforcement and Security Cooperation Centre (LMLECC), which provided financial and technical backing, pledged ongoing assistance – including training for Cambodian police and future expansion of the camera grid.

The rollout positions Phnom Penh among Southeast Asia's more heavily monitored cities, reflecting Cambodia's deepening security collaboration with regional partners under the Lancang-Mekong framework.

By K. Rithy Reak