Deputy Lord Mayor’s push for more CCTV cameras

The Chinatown CCTV security project should be rolled out to other city crime hot spots, Adelaide City Council Deputy Mayor Alex Hyde says.

Tran Duong who works at Kuo Chi Oriental Supermarket in Moonta St said his workplace had been targeted by thieves. Picture: AAP/Sam Wundke

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A PLAN to give Chinatown traders a rebate for installing security cameras on their businesses should be extended to Hutt St and South Tce, Adelaide City Council’s deputy lord mayor says.

At a committee meeting on Tuesday night, Cr Alexander Hyde said the trial should be extended to include the roads because of ongoing crime issues.

The Advertiser reported on Monday better lighting and more security cameras are planned around Chinatown in a bid to alleviate concerns about increasing crime.

After last night’s sitting Cr Hyde said he would push to expand that at the council meeting next week.

“It is critical to trial the scheme across the city’s south, given the ongoing issues of anti-social behaviour and community safety concerns related to problem drinking,” Cr Hyde said.

In November, SA Police said there had been a recent crime increase in the Adelaide parklands.

The council last month conducted an audit of the area with Chinatown representatives and SA Police, to identify how safety could be improved.

During the audit, traders raised concerns about begging, public urination, theft and used syringes being left on the ground.

The council will now consider spending more than $160,000 on safety measures including upgrading lighting and encouraging traders to install CCTV cameras with subsidies.

Crime has also been a problem for some Hutt St traders and, last year, the council deployed a security guard to alleviate their concerns.
Hutt Street Traders Associations spokeswoman Colette Slight supported Cr Hyde’s proposal.

“When the banks closed the CCTV cameras went with them and we lost that street view,” Ms Slight said.

However, at the meeting, Cr Robert Simms said he was against the council’s current proposal because it was a “disturbing breach of privacy”.

He said it would start a “dangerous precedent for the city”.

An SA Police spokesperson said: “Police consider CCTV cameras a valuable investigative and crime prevention tool that serves to enhance community safety and SAPOL supports any additions to that increase public safety”.

The council will vote on whether the trial should go ahead on Tuesday, December 10.