Community CCTV appeal

Local police are appealing to members of the community with public-facing CCTV cameras to register them in a database used to help solve crimes.

Local Area Commander Inspector Kael Oosthuizen told CBD News the existing state-wide Victoria Police Community CCTV register was already “incredibly useful”, and police wanted to continue to build it.

Essentially the register allows our members to see on a map the location of privately-owned CCTV systems and cameras and contains the contact details for who owns them if for some reason we think CCTV is going to benefit an investigation, he said.

In the last month alone police had used the register numerous times to identify CCTV that might help investigations, he said.

In one instance officers investigating the theft of a vehicle from a multi-storey car park in the CBD were able to identify the owners of nearby CCTV systems, request footage and identify an offender.

In a second instance, in the case of the theft of an e-bike from outside a Melbourne hostel which had no useable CCTV, a check of the register located a nearby property that did, resulting in potential offenders being identified.

The register, which was started in September 2021 with an initial 415 cameras had since grown to more than 6000 across the state, Inspector Oosthuizen said.

It was growing daily, with more than 130 cameras added in the month of March.

“It’s becoming an increasingly useful tool for our investigators.”

The register didn’t include internal cameras in businesses, the inspector stressed.

“Really what we’re after is CCTV that captures an element of community space – whether it’s a street or footpath or a shared space.”

It was important to note that the process of registering was entirely voluntary, he said, and wouldn’t give police automatic access to any systems.

“We don’t have any ability to dial into anyone’s system or anything like that, just the knowledge of where it is and the fact that someone has indicated their willingness to share.”

All personal details would be stored in a secure police database, he said, and footage, if required, could be uploaded to police online.

“This is an organisational platform we’re keen to make people aware of,” the inspector said.

“It’s use really supports my investigators and my police members and we’re keen to see an increased awareness of it so that the community can register their interest if they choose to do so.”

People willing to provide the location of their CCTV, or with questions about the register, should contact their local police station (Melbourne North 8379 0800), (Melbourne West 9624 3999), (Melbourne East 9637 1100) or Acting Sergeant Nick Parissis at [email protected]

They will be asked to fill out a one-page form sent by email. •