Oamaru's foot soldiers of goodwill, the Waitaki Guardians, have finished their last foot patrols of the town after nine years of service.
The paid group was introduced in response to violence, disorder and alcohol-related incidents in the town.
Waitaki District Council community safety and development facilitator Helen Algar said the project had been a success and reduced disorder in the town which was endemic at the time the group was introduced.
Waitaki Mayor Gary Kircher said the service would be replaced by volunteer community patrols and CCTV cameras located at specific points in Oamaru.
According to the council's annual plan for 2013-14, the council grant funding to the Waitaki Guardians was $50,000 and in 2014-15 the group received $40,000.
Mr Kircher said some funding would now be provided for the community patrols and maintenance of the CCTV cameras.
He said the council was mindful of community safety and would watch what was happening.
Mrs Algar said that, over the years, the guardians patrolled Oamaru on Fridays and Saturdays for a couple of hours.
She described the team as the "eyes and ears on the street''.
The guardians finished with three staff and a volunteer on June 25.
