Albury Council and police deploy mobile CCTV unit to target hoon drivers

Albury Council has teamed up with the Murray River Police District to commence a six-month trial to monitor various hotspots for hoon drivers.

The unit will provide a live feed to council and police 24 hours a day and also has licence plate recognition technology, night vision and a 360-degree view of its surrounds.

The Kerr Road and Thurgoona Drive roundabout is the first location to be closely watched, with police and the community to identify further hotspots for hoon activity.

Murray River Highway Patrol Inspector Scott Trewhella welcomed the addition of mobile CCTV and said it would open more channels for the community to report dangerous activity.

"If members of the public happen to drive past and see behaviour that concerns them they can contact crime stoppers, remain anonymous and provide the exact time and date," he said.

"The technology will make our job far easier in relation to things we might not have been on the spot to see."

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Albury Council community and place service leader Simona Coad said the aim was to deter hoon driving and provide police a tool to help reduce overall crime.

"It will allow us to work with police to see the efficacy of the system, capture some data, we'll get feedback and do an evaluation," she said.

"Based on police feedback, the trailer will move approximately every five to 10 days, but we are flexible."

CCTV was installed in Dean Street last year, while a camera network is almost complete in Lavington and should be commissioned by the end of December.

Councillor Darren Cameron was delighted to see the unit in full swing.

"I had to fight very hard in council to get CCTV in Dean Street and extended to Lavington," he said.

"Hoon driving is a big problem in Albury. People in Thurgoona, North Albury and Lavington deserve to be able to eat their meals and sleep at night without idiots going around roundabouts doing burnouts."

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