ALBURY Council will re-visit the installation of security cameras in Dean Street next month.
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Cr Darren Cameron succeeded with a motion this week for a report to come before the May meeting on closed circuit television options.
They included potentially cheaper internet-based cameras for nightclub hot spots.
The motion was passed 6-3 with mayor Kevin Mack and deputy mayor Henk van de Ven backing it.
Among those against were the council’s representative on the Albury Liquor Accord, Cr David Thurley, and accord chairman Cr Daryl Betteridge.
Last October the council put CCTV on hold for 12 months after the latest crime data showing alcohol-related offences were down 24 per cent a year over a five-year period to March last year.
Cr Cameron said police had briefed the council confidentially about a “disturbing trend” in grog-fuelled incidents in recent months and action had to be taken.
“The number of incidents of non-domestic violence in Albury has been increasing, but not back to the levels of seven years ago,” he said.
“The internet-based technology for CCTV may be significantly cheaper than traditional forms of surveillance.
“Hopefully the report will show that.”
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In October he pushed for cameras to be installed between David and Olive streets and in two Lavington locations.
Cr van de Ven said local police had indicated a willingness to be involved in monitoring the cameras.
“If we can install CCTV that can prevent one assault in Dean Street it would be remiss of us not to take that opportunity,” he said.
Cr Graham Docksey agreed: “We should be able to catch these individuals and then publicly work out who they are and then fine them”.
Cr Alice Glachan questioned the urgency of a report next month, but director James Jenkins said a report outlining the cost of cameras could be made available for the May meeting.
Cr Thurley opposed calling for a report.
“In my opinion nothing much has changed,” he said.
“It is an unnecessary waste of council’s time.
“If the whole purpose of CCTV cameras is to prevent crime, all of the evidence shows they do not.
“Very few people who are drunk stop to consider whether CCTV will capture their image.”
