Local police are looking into the use of video cameras to reduce crime in the CBD.

The possibility of installing security cameras in the CBD was raised years ago, but abandoned when it was found to be prohibitively expensive.

Mudgee superintendent Greg Spinks said the police were now looking into using ordinary video cameras, which had become very affordable, and brought with them several other advantages.

The cameras could be installed to cover a row of shops, just like specialised surveillance cameras, but would also be portable, and could be moved and installed close to any location that was experiencing vandalism.

This would mean the cameras would not just protect Mudgee, but could be taken to Gulgong, Rylstone or Kandos if vandals were active there.

For example, the cameras could be set up in a building near Billy Dunn Oval in Gulgong, which has suffered some vandalism recently, but which it would be impractical to cover with permanent surveillance cameras.

This would mean vandals would never know where the camera was and whether their activities would be recorded.

Superintendent Spinks said the police were currently pricing cameras, tripods and the hard drives onto which footage would be recorded.

Following conversations with a few Mid-Western Region councillors, he hoped that council might support the initiative by purchasing the equipment for the police to use and maintain.

An investigation by council staff into the costs of such a purchase will be included in their report on submissions to the 2008/09 management plan.