Parramatta. CCTV cameras in Church Street

Parramatta City Council has launched extra closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras in the CBD, for a trial period, as part of the Safer City initiative aimed at curbing the incidence of anti-social behaviour. Through the “Eyes on the Street” surveillance program, four mobile cameras have been installed at key hotspots along the Church Street dining precinct, with more cameras soon to be deployed in other areas around the CBD. Council has applied for federal government funding to install a further 10 surveillance cameras.

No CCTV to fight crime in the CBD

A feasibility study of the merits of closed circuit television (CCTV) in the Parramatta city centre has found insufficient justification for a CCTV network which would incur substantial costs to install, operate, monitor and maintain. The draft 2008-2013 City Centre Crime Prevention Plan noted the areas with the greatest concentration of crime were Church Street, the bus/rail interchange and surrounding areas, Westfield and the Church Street Mall.

The draft, which also noted that "Parramatta is generally a very safe place to work, shop, visit and live" goes on public exhibition this month. Sydney City Council has spent $3.5 million revamping its closed circuit television (CCTV) network from video technology to digital comprises 82 surveillance cameras.