Positions for at least 10 new closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras in Queenstown are all but finalised and police say the security system will be working in time for the Winter Festival, in June.
Queenstown police have been calling for the CCTV system for three years and Senior Sergeant John Fookes said after he and other police staff had some input on the camera placements, the system would be running by mid-May.
"It's a really good start. We realise the council have to work in the constraints of a budget.
"It is good timing, not just for Winter Festival, but for the winter period, when town gets pretty busy."
The 10 cameras would be placed around the perimeter of the town centre and would be used as a "preventive and apprehending" crime tool by police.
"We've had a lot of good results out of CCTV footage from bars, which have clarified situations and identified offenders.
"In terms of apprehending, it is a very good tool."
Snr Sgt Fookes said the system would have a limited effect on crime prevention because offending in the city centre was alcohol-fuelled and spontaneous.
However, he said the system would prevent repeat offenders, as they were more likely to be caught on the first offence using the camera footage.
The type of crimes likely to be caught on camera were damage, fighting and assaults most triggered by late-night and early-morning drinking.
The cameras would be placed in the drinking hot spots, such as Ballarat St, Brecon St, Camp St, Marine Pde and Searle Lane.
This was similar to the city-centre CCTV system in Wellington, which has been in place for more than six years, on Cuba St, Courtney Pl and Manners Mall.
Wellington City Council manager of city safety Robyn Steel said the 11 cameras, soon to be 12, were a good "preventive measure" for the city.
"They are just a good tool ... not many cities don't have them now."
Wellington's CCTV system is monitored by safety officers 28 hours a week, mainly Thursday night until Sunday morning, during peak hours of 10pm to 4am.
When incidents are picked up by the safety officers they notify police.
"It's been sufficient at this stage."
Ms Steel said the council often got requests from the public to use the camera footage for incidents such as tagging and theft.
How the cameras would be monitored was yet to be decided by Queenstown police, Snr Sgt Fookes said, but it was likely a volunteer would view the footage from 11pm until 4am or 5am on busy nights.
He said while constant monitoring of the system would be the most effective, taking a police constable off the street to view the footage was not an option.
"The monitoring thing is an issue. There are a couple possibilities.
"The plan is they would direct police by radio and in the best-case scenario, track the offender from camera to camera."
He said it was a "modular system" and more cameras could be added over time. That was the hope of Queenstown police.
"These things depend on finance and there is only so much money in the pot," Snr Sgt Fookes said.
Camera placements
- Corner of Stanley St.
- Hotops Rise.
- Marine Pde.
- Ballarat St.
- Camp St.
- Brecon St.
- Lower Shotover St.
- Searle Lane (Joe's Garage).
- Cow Lane.
- Corner of Beech and Brunswick Sts.
- Possibly two extra cameras on:Shotover and Rees Sts intersection.
- Eureka Arcade (the mall).
