Liverpool Council to reconnect CCTV cameras at Macquarie St Mall

CAMERAS at Liverpool’s Macquarie St Mall will be reconnected to the council’s network following an attempted child abduction last month.

Macquarie St Mall. Picture: Melvyn Knipe

THREE existing CCTV cameras at Macquarie St Mall will be reconnected to Liverpool Council’s network, along with 17 additional cameras, as a matter of priority following an attempted child abduction last month.

The Leader can reveal the three existing cameras were disconnected due to ongoing building works at the recently revamped mall where a man attempted to abduct a 15-month-old boy.

Police continue to investigate the incident, which occurred at the children’s play area about 2.30pm on May 25.

The children’s play area. Picture: Melvyn Knipe

The man is described as being of Mediterranean/Middle Eastern appearance, about 45 years old, of medium build, clean shaven, with black hair that was combed back.

He was wearing a black woollen long-sleeved jacket at the time of the incident.

Liverpool local area command’s crime manager, Detective Inspector Dean Johnstone, said despite a public appeal no other witnesses had come forward.

Police continue to investigate but have had no success searching through other CCTV camera footage from nearby businesses, which did not capture the incident.

“The CCTV we have is from businesses which points to the front of their stores.

“A person of interest or even the mother and child have not been captured in this footage,” det Insp Johnstone said.

Three existing cameras at the mall were disconnected from the council’s network due to ongoing building works. Picture: Melvyn Knipe

At the time of the incident, cameras operated by the council were not working.

Det Insp Johnstone said CCTV was “an excellent investigative tool.”

Liverpool Council’s chief executive Kiersten Fishburn said: “due to the major upgrade and building works in Macquarie St, the three cameras in the mall have yet to be reconnected.”

The council did not specify how long that had been the case.

There are 23 CCTV cameras in the Liverpool CBD along with 17 cameras at Macquarie St Mall.

“The extra 17 cameras that are being installed in the mall should be operational by the end of this month,” Ms Fishburn said.

The council’s CCTV program was installed as part of a $1.2 million investment by the council.

At its meeting last week, the council resolved to allocate necessary funds to ensure all CCTV cameras were operational now and into the future.