Eyes on CBD crime get wider

Carterton District Council is streamlining its downtown video security network with new cameras, wireless image transmission, and a centralised monitoring and retrieval system.

Community facilities manager Brian McWilliams said the existing CBD network was comprised of two panning cameras installed about two years ago and two older models installed about seven years ago.

He said images from the cameras were wirelessly transmitted to a receiver atop the town clock tower and relayed to a twin server monitor in the nearby police station in Holloway St via an unsightly cable "that looks like a flying fox".

The council also operated four motion sensitive cameras at the Carterton Events Centre and, about three months ago, two cameras were also installed at the neighbouring council yards after several break-ins.

The two latest cameras in the CBD are sited at the corner of Memorial Square and High St and at the corner of High St and Belvedere Rd and the older models are located at the corner of Holloway and High Sts and across the road from Carrington Park.

Mr McWilliams said he had been eyeing two new automatic dome cameras with panning and high zoom capabilities that would replace the older models, which would be relocated to Carrington Park.

The data cable leading from the clock tower would also be replaced with a wireless transmitter that would beam images to an updated network video recorder in a communications room at the events centre that already housed a server rack and monitor for centre cameras.

The Greater Wellington Regional Council also operates 10 security cameras at the Carterton Railway Station, which are part of a remote monitoring system operated in the capital.

"We want to streamline the entire system," Mr McWilliams said.

"We can keep the old cameras, run them off the new network, and keep an eye on grafitti and bullying at Carrington Park.

"A wireless transmitter system will unclutter the clock tower and we should make use of the communications room at the centre, if only because at times it is difficult to access the monitor at the police station - it's a no-brainer really."

Mr McWilliams said the cameras were vital to "pick up on anti-social behaviour" in the CBD and park and the security system was invaluable as a deterrent to crime.

"This isn't a high crime area but the cameras certainly provide peace of mind as a preventative and the images can be reviewed when something does happen," he said.