SECURITY monitoring of Wanganui's central city crime "hot spots" has taken another significant step forward with more cameras about to start operating and other parts of the system upgraded.
The Wanganui District Council set aside $109,000 in its annual plan for the security upgrade and chief executive officer David Warburton said to date about $95,000 had been spent.
Dr Warburton said he expected the balance to be spent over the next few months.
This latest advance has seen the monitoring suite in the Wanganui police watch-house upgraded with new software allowing better recording and storage capability. New cameras in use can now automatically move to pre-set points regularly throughout a cycle. The old software only allowed cameras to default to one position when not being operated.
This upgrade has also brought about an expansion of the fibre optic capacity between the Bell St police station and Wanganui's central business district (CBD) and the majority of ducting from Ingestre St to upper Victoria Ave has been laid to house fibre optic cable for a new camera outside McDonalds.
Dr Warburton said Telecom, along with Gen-I, was a major player in enabling the work to be done.
"We have an ongoing programme of improvements to the existing system and thanks to assistance from Telecom we are now able to proceed with a number of these," he said. Meanwhile, cameras installed in Cooks Gardens are about to go "live".
"The area has long been a target for vandalism and behavioural problems, as well as an 'escape route' for people leaving the CBD after committing offences. The cameras will now cover this area, including Maria Pl," he said.
A radio link camera will be installed in Anzac Pde to cover the rowing club buildings on the Somme Pde riverbank. Dr Warburton said this area had also had its share of vandalism and intimidation in the past.
Cr Ray Stevens, the district council's spokesman on police matters, said he "absolutely endorsed" this extension and upgrade to the security camera system.
Cr Stevens said it was part of on on-going programme involving the council and Wanganui police.
"The police have regular monthly meetings with some of our officers. The police will outline those areas they regard as 'hot spots' and coverage will then be programmed as and when funds permit," he said.
Wanganui police area commander Inspector Duncan MacLeod welcomed the announcement.
"It's all positive. Anything that's going to aid the police and help the community feel safer and be safer, is an asset to the community," he said.
Mr MacLeod told the Wanganui Chronicle police appreciated what the council was doing and looked forward to seeing the cameras in operation.
Earlier this month, the Chronicle reported concerns from some central city retailers that the CCTV cameras weren't being monitored, but this was rejected by police who said it was a useful policing tool.
"Wanganui is a safer place with less crime thanks to the commitment of the council to the CCTV upgrades," he said.
More cameras to fight crime
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