Yarra Council switches on to investigate CCTV cameras for Richmond drug spot

PEOPLE dealing drugs on a busy street in Melbourne’s inner city may soon come under the eye of big brother.

cctv camera isolated on white background

YARRA Council will investigate the possibility of installing CCTV on a Richmond street notorious for drug deals.

However, people living nearby fear cameras will only push drug use into residential streets.

The council last night unanimously passed a motion calling on a report to explore CCTV being installed on Victoria St.

The council last debated CCTV in 2011 when it was resolved not to consider installing cameras.

However, Cr Phillip Vlahogiannis said it was time the council made an “informed and fresh decision” on the issue.

Cr Vlahogiannis said the motion did not drive an outcome on the installation of cameras, but would facilitate community discussion.

“It purely, simply, perhaps exclusively, facilitates bringing the discussion to the chamber,” Cr Vlahogiannis said.

HAVE YOUR SAY: Is it time to install CCTV cameras in Richmond? Tell us below

Cr Stephen Jolly said CCTV and drug use on Victoria St was “one of the hottest political issues” in Yarra.

“We need a formal debate so we are not shouting at each other in the newspapers,” Cr Jolly said.

However, Cr Jolly said cameras would only force dealers off Victoria St and into residential areas.

Charles St resident Kit Fennessy, who lives just two blocks from Victoria St, labelled CCTV as “window dressing” and said more welfare and outreach programs should be encouraged to address the problem.

Mr Fennessy told the meeting he had been robbed three times from people affected by drugs, while another user had overdosed in a lane next to his house.

Yarra Inspector Dean McGowan said CCTV was acknowledged as a deterrent to crime and held ­perpetrators to account for their actions.

“The release of CCTV footage to the public also greatly assists police in identifying offenders and locating witnesses to crime,” Insp McGowan said.

Yarra Mayor Roberto Colanzi said it was time to an “informed debate” on the issue again.

Richmond MP Richard Wynne recently urged the council to partner with the State Government in implementing a 12-month trial of CCTV in Richmond.

Mr Wynne said the trial would be at “minimal cost” to the council.

The report will be prepared in consultation with police and other relevant community stakeholders and is due to be presented at the March 22 council meeting.