Leading shopping area tells others to consider CCTV to curb crime

“Business communities in greater Auckland that have shopkeepers fearing for their lives should seriously consider banding together and funding a comprehensive CCTV system, particularly now that such technology is more affordable and is proving to make a real difference in areas like ours,” says the head Auckland’s leading retail district, Cameron Brewer, general manager of the Newmarket Business Association .

“Newmarket’s CCTV project is a great example of what can be achieved. Early indications from the latest official police statistics for the Newmarket CBD show that our local CCTV project is making a big difference. What’s more it’s not overly expensive. Newmarket’s CCTV project costs each member business about 30 cents a day in total. Business communities in some of the Auckland’s worst affected areas could be surprised at just how cost effective CCTV is these days and the positive results it can achieve,” says Mr Brewer.   

Newmarket’s Officer in Charge Senior Sergeant Wendy Spiller reports that overall reported crime in Newmarket was down 28% for the three months of June, July, and August 2008 compared to those same three months in 2007. Unlawful takings which include stolen vehicles were down 40%, shoplifting was down 30%, car break-ins and violence were both down 25%.

“Congratulations to the business association on its commitment to organising and funding the Newmarket CCTV project. It’s off to a great start, one I hope will continue through the busy upcoming summer months. The Newmarket CCTV system is proving to be a great tool in helping prevent crime, detect offenders, and gather evidence. While it costs, it is saving the community in so many ways,” says Ms Spiller.

The Newmarket CCTV project was officially launched in early June. High-resolution images from state-of-the-art cameras mounted on commercial buildings throughout central Newmarket are transmitted via wireless technology to a dedicated monitoring room inside the Newmarket Police Station.

Cameron Brewer: “The key to the success of this project is the fact that the system is being very actively used and our security strategy is an integrated one. Our cameras are not passive cameras. They are being worked hard. 

 “We can now act on anything undesirable almost immediately. This is helped by the fact that a Newmarket Security patrol is out on the streets in constant radio contact with monitoring personnel inside the police station.

“It’s a truly unique public-private partnership which sees CCTV proactively used in a way that has never been achieved before in a New Zealand town centre. CCTV can make a big difference if you make it work for you. These statistics will hopefully show other communities that if they’re prepared to properly resource their CCTV systems, they too might see a significant reduction in crime.” says Mr Brewer.

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