ALBANY Chamber of Commerce and Industry has lauded the initial success of the CCTV system in reducing crime in the CBD.
Businesses on Stirling Terrace are so happy with the first three months’ operation of the cameras in reducing the number of incidents, they recommend more be installed.
They claim thousands of dollars in security, repairs and time responding to overnight events had been saved.
ACCI CEO Graham Harvey said the success of the CCTV in reducing anti-social incidents on Stirling Terrace vindicated its efforts.
“Compared to the same period in 2008, overall offences are down 33.33 per cent, move-on orders down 53.06 per cent and street drinking offences down 80 per cent,” he said.
“Needless to say, the police are delighted, as are business owners on Stirling Terrace who are reporting a significant drop in graffiti, footpath vomit, empty bottles, window breakages and security firm alarm callouts.”
The cameras were installed in the city’s “crime hotspots” in an attempt to reduce mainly anti-social and drunken behaviour after patrons leave the nightclub and hotels.
“The Chamber is currently exploring ways to attract additional funding so we can spread cameras further across the city,” Mr Harvey said.
“It certainly is in the best interests of business owners and the residents of Albany to have this system up and running.”
Tuscany’s on the Terrace owner Caroline Foster supported more CCTVs being installed.
“We have not had a single alarm call-out on the weekend since the cameras were installed,” she said.
“In fact we haven’t had an alarm call-out at all.”
Ms Foster said there was no need for the regular Monday morning clean-up in front of her store.
“I can’t say definitely it was the cameras, but since they have been in we have had no problems.”
Senior Sergeant Trevor Evans said the cameras had an obvious effect on crime figures in the city.
“The figures are from a 10-week period this year which we’ve compared to the same time last year,” Sen Sgt Evans said.
“So they relate to move-on notices and street-drinking offences which were committed before the cameras were installed,” he said.
“Businesses have said they’re not having to make call-outs to security companies about their premises like they were on previous occasions.
“There are also not so many bottles lying around, and I understand that there’s generally not so much to clean up on the streets at the weekend.”
The ACCI and police first proposed the idea for CCTVs along Stirling Terrace in October 2005 after vandalism of businesses and the outbreak of several drunken brawls.
It installed the CCTV system without support from the City of Albany after it refused to be co-applicants alongside the police on a National Community Crime Prevention Strategy Program (NCCPSP).
Government funding of $300,000 towards CCTV system installation was lost.
One Councillor described installing CCTV in the city as a being “stone’s throw away from fascism” and a “serious infringement of people’s civil liberties”.
In November 2008, Council partnered with the police with funding for the initial stage of the CCTV project of $150,000 obtained from the NCCPSP.
The main server of the state-of-the-art system is housed at Albany Police Station and records 24 hours a day. Police utilise it once a complaint is made.
The City later signed a partnership with the Office of Crime Prevention to develop its stance against criminal and anti-social activity.
At the time, Albany Mayor Milton Evans said the City would take a close interest in the outcomes of the ACCI’s program.
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