About 25 years ago, the number of drunken assaults led to a considerable outcry from Border residents.

In the years since, attention has returned again and again to the issue.

And invariably, it follows publicity about another nasty assault, stabbing or untimely death in the centre of town.

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Many possibly solutions have been bandied about to try to address this problem, but it's fair to say that one of the most effective has been the introduction of a network of CCTV cameras in the Albury CBD.

The idea wasn't new, having been suggested many times in the past, but finally it got past the "what-if" stage and became a reality.

Most people would readily see the immediate advantages of such a system.

Indeed, the police have, as expected, highlighted just how important a tool the cameras have become in tracking down those who inflict violence on others after a night out drinking.

But just as importantly, the cameras provide a strong deterrence for incidents happening at all.

And with that comes considerable peace of mind for people wanting to go out on a Friday and Saturday night without having to worry about their safety on the streets.

It is for these reasons that the latest plan from Albury Council for a similar network in Lavington's CBD carries so much merit.

Safety concerns for people out and about at night in this area is a key reason, but there is also the matter of property crime.

It is not uncommon for cases to come before the Albury Local Court that tell the same old story of crooks breaking into one Lavington business before going on to another, then another again.

In the meantime, not only are these businesses left out of pocket from what's stolen but they also have considerable damage bills to foot or higher insurance premiums to pay.

The council is indeed taking the right step in deciding to investigate whether a CCTV network will keep the crooks at home.