By Shamsiya Hussainpoor and Dongyun Kwon
State and local politicians have expressed their support for the CCTV network in Yarra Ranges, with many calling for increased collaboration to improve community safety.
The CCTV cameras, which were first introduced on main streets across the region as an election promise by former Casey MP Tony Smith, have been praised by local MPs and law enforcement officials alike.
Last week, Star Mail reached out to the four federal election candidates for Casey, who unanimously backed the idea of re-establishing the CCTV network in some form.
Despite the initial funding for the cameras coming from the federal government, local state politicians are calling for stronger partnerships between federal, state, and local governments in managing the system effectively.
The Member for Eldon and Shadow Minister for Crime Prevention, Cindy McLeish, emphasised the importance of these partnerships in ensuring the CCTV network’s success.
“CCTV not only helps catch criminals, but it also deters crime from happening in the first place. A fully functioning CCTV network is an asset to communities and the police,” Ms McLeish said.
“Some CCTVs are funded privately, through trader’s associations, some through councils and others through government grants. The police are already under enormous pressure with over 1000 vacancies and being asked to find $2 billion in savings over the coming four-year budget cycle. This makes their efforts in community safety even tougher.”
Minister for Police, Community Safety and Victims, Anthony Carbines, also weighed in on the issue, expressing his support for initiatives aimed at boosting community safety in the region.
“Under this Government we are introducing the toughest bail laws in the country to ensure there are serious consequences for repeat offenders. We have also passed the Australia-first machete ban and expanded stop-and-search powers for Victoria Police to get more weapons off our streets,” Mr Carbines said.
He went on to highlight additional police resources for the Yarra Ranges region.
“Local police are out 24/7 holding offenders to account – backed by an additional 97 police officers by this Government for the Knox Division which services the Yarra Ranges. We thank them for keeping the community safe and we will continue to back them with the powers they need,” Mr Carbines said.
The government has also provided over $833,000 for several crime prevention projects in the Yarra Ranges, with any further funding proposals being assessed on their merit.
However, the Yarra Ranges Council has not yet applied to the Department of Justice and Community Safety for additional CCTV funding, despite the ongoing calls for an expanded network.
The debate over CCTV in Yarra Ranges comes at a time when the region, like much of Victoria, is facing increased pressure on law enforcement resources.
The introduction of new bail laws by the state government is expected to add further weight to the push for enhanced crime prevention measures, including the expansion of CCTV infrastructure.
State Member for Monbulk, Daniela De Martino, was contacted for comment.
The ongoing discussions around the CCTV network reflect a shared commitment across various levels of government to work together for the safety and security of the Yarra Ranges community.
