Surveillance cameras ‘stop thugs, save life’

By Michelle Herbison
A HIGH-TECH surveillance network with eyes and ears on Geelong’s streets is curbing night-time crime, according to police.
The city’s expanding network of surveillance cameras also recently saved a life when it captured a girl collapsed alone, police said.
City of Greater Geelong confirmed 27 security cameras were now monitoring two dozen locations around the city’s centre 24 hours a day.
Geelong Police liquor licensing unit’s Sergeant Shane Connolly said the network was helping “change the culture” of the city after dark.
He credited the cameras with helping drive a “heavy reduction” in anti-social behaviour.
A further 12 cameras could be added to the system soon, he said.
A camera operator monitors the network between midnight and 5am Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
Sgt Connolly said the operator was in contact via radio with police on the streets and in vans, nightclub operators, cleaners, taxi drivers and even McDonald’s staff.
The expanding network of cameras was part of “preventative and proactive” policing in central Geelong, he said.
“It’s about early intervention. We’ve proved that if we get in and identify minor issues earlier we’ve got a better chance of reducing more-serious injuries later on.
“We can send police into a particular area promptly then they can move onto the next job and we still have the group monitored with the cameras.”
Sgt Connolly said the cameras increased perceptions of safety in the city area while helping “identify issues” rather than just targeting offenders.
The security system recently helped save a girl’s life when an operator noticed her collapsed in the street.
“The camera operator saw her lying down and no one was around. He was able to call a cleaner nearby who was hooked up on radio and they saved her life.”
City Central Geelong manager Dean Frost said council had installed four cameras in Moorabool St and one in Ryrie St in the past 18 months.
The cameras were watching the city’s new “super bus stops” and “monitoring nightlife activity”, he said.
Council community safety portfolio holder Jan Farrell said the system was “continuously evaluated”.
“Council is constantly looking to upgrade the security camera system, taking feedback from Victoria Police, central Geelong traders and venue operators and our own staff,” she said.