Mapped: The locations where Adelaide’s CCTV cameras are watching you

South Australians are being watched by a massive network of council-operated CCTV surveillance but they don’t have to reveal the locations – so we did some digging.

South Australians are being watched by a network of public cameras as council-operated surveillance operates as a major crime-fighting tool.

Traders and private residents spend thousands of dollars a year to monitor shops and homes but public spaces are also under surveillance by local councils.

Hundreds, if not thousands, of CCTV cameras across Adelaide are operated by councils and monitored by SA Police, with local governments claiming they reduce crime by deterring potential offenders.

With a growing shoplifting problem in the spotlight and police launching targeted operations in the main city trading strip Rundle Mall, public CCTV is used as a crime fighting tool.

In the CBD, the Adelaide City Council owns and operates the City Safe CCTV network, which is monitored 24 hours a day, seven days a week by SA Police.

The network, which came under fire in 2021 when facial-recognition software was considered but was eventually not installed, provides “eyes on the street” when police patrols are not present, according to its fact sheet.

EIGHT SHOCKING CRIMES CAUGHT ON CCTV

More than 100 security cameras are keeping a constant watchful eye on people across parts of the Adelaide CBD, King William St and Hindley St. Picture: Roy Van Der Vegt

Famously, SA Police officers monitoring live CCTV in the CBD led to the dramatic drug bust involving a pair of Crows players in 2020.

Then-Crows stars Brad Crouch and Tyson Stengle were pulled over by police in a taxi on Grenfell St and found in possession of an illicit substance alleged to be cocaine.

No charges were laid, with authorities saying “the small amount of substances they were caught with meant the drug diversion program, in which users are given counselling, was appropriate”.

The AFL imposed a two-game ban on Crouch while Stengle was slammed with a four-match ban, and the pair both received an AFL illicit drugs strike.

At the time, Crouch posted an apology on social media, saying he was “ashamed, embarrassed and disappointed” after the incident.

Stengle said there was “no excuse for my behaviour”. “I have let down my family, friends, the Adelaide Football Club and the AFL community,” he said.

At the time, Police Commissioner Grant Stevens revealed the duo were captured on CCTV and issued a further warning to would-be criminals.

“If you think you can get away with criminal acts in the CBD, we will make that much harder as a result of CCTV,” Mr Stevens said.

It’s not just the city streets under the microscope, with Holdfast Bay Council heralding its expanded CCTV network as essential to help increase safety and reduce crime.

A network was introduced in 2006 and now includes almost 80 cameras from the Esplanade and Foreshore to the retail precinct of Jetty Rd, with the locations chosen in consultation with police and Surf Life Saving.

MEET THE SUPERMARKET TITAN TAKING ON SHOPLIFTERS

The intersection of Moseley St and Jetty Rd in Glenelg. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

There is no legal requirement for councils to publicly release the locations of cameras but most individual council policies say they must install signs where they are in operation.

Only four councils – Adelaide, Burnside, Campbelltown and Holdfast Bay – supplied their CCTV locations when requested by The Advertiser.

Campbelltown City Council has a list of locations on its website including Athelstone Recreation Reserve and Hectorville Sporting Centre, with its privacy policy stating CCTV was introduced to “contribute to encouraging a high standard of public safety”.

Burnside Council has no public register of CCTV camera locations and told The Advertiser they were installed at council-owned locations including the Civic Centre, library, George Bolton Swimming Centre and Glynburn Rd Council Depot with advisory signs.

Burnside Town Hall. Picture: Calum Robertson

Prospect Council said the council used CCTV surrounding council assets but would not reveal the locations.

“Our primary purpose in using these cameras is to deter criminal activity, ensure safety and security, and assist law enforcement if necessary,” a spokesman said.

“For these reasons, we are unable to disclose the exact locations of these cameras, as revealing their placement could potentially compromise their effectiveness.”

Onkaparinga Council would not publicly provide the locations of cameras, also claiming it was to maintain their effectiveness in deterring crime and vandalism.

A Playford Council spokesperson confirmed it operated CCTV cameras but also refused to reveal where.

A City of Marion spokesperson confirmed the council operates CCTV cameras both in public areas and in municipal buildings.

“The City of Marion does not make the locations of these cameras readily accessible for members of the public,” a spokesperson said.

Mitcham Council said it does not operate CCTV in public areas.

“We do have security on our buildings and these do include CCTV cameras; for example our Civic Centre has CCTV cameras and alarms to ensure the security of the building,” a spokesperson said.

Likewise, the Town of Walkerville only monitors its headquarters with camera surveillance.

“With the exception of Council’s Civic and Community Centre, Town of Walkerville does not have public CCTV cameras nor a publicly available list of CCTV sites,” a spokesperson said.

“Additionally, Town of Walkerville does not have a CCTV-specific policy in place.”

The cameras aren’t just on our streets, with a government spokesman confirming all buses are fitted with CCTV.