The Wilmington Police Department will end its contract with Flock Safety and remove the town’s two automated license-plate reader cameras, according to the department’s announcement. The cameras are located at Middlesex Avenue and Federal Street and at Main Street and Bridge Lane.
Police said the cameras have supported investigations, but concerns from residents about privacy and the handling of collected data now outweigh those benefits. The department expects a $2,500 refund for ending the agreement early; the contract had been scheduled to continue through Feb. 27, 2027. The cameras will be removed as soon as possible.
A local decision amid wider scrutiny
The decision comes as other Massachusetts communities reconsider their agreements with Flock. WGBH reported that 25 municipalities had canceled Flock contracts or discontinued pilot programs during the 18 months before its report, with concerns focused on privacy and the system’s default data-sharing practices.
Groton also deactivated its Flock cameras and planned to remove them after its police chief said community trust and privacy concerns outweighed the technology’s investigative value, according to Harvard Kennedy School. Groton police said the cameras had helped active criminal investigations.
Wilmington police said any future decision to use automated license-plate readers would involve advance public notice and community input.
