Minister for Police Mark Ryan and Member for Maryborough Bruce Saunders, joined Inspector Paul Algie of the Maryborough Police Patrol Group today to launch the Queensland Police Service Community Camera Alliance initiative for the Maryborough and Bundaberg communities.
The Community Camera Alliance is a community safety initiative led by the QPS in which local businesses and residents with closed-circuit television (CCTV) register their systems with police to assist in preventing and solving crime.
Business and residents take part in the program on a voluntary basis, with registration details being securely stored on a police database only accessible by police on approved devices.
Inspector Algie said registering with the Community Camera Alliance gave police access to an important investigative resource.
“The Community Camera Alliance creates a network of available CCTV points across our towns and regions which can be called upon when investigating neighbourhood crime,” Inspector Algie said.
“If police believe that a CCTV system can assist to solve a crime or help in any other way, people registered in a particular area will be contacted and asked to provide assistance.
“CCTV has become an important investigative tool and the Community Camera Alliance helps maximise the efficiency of investigations and minimise the loss of potential evidence.
“We strongly urge any Maryborough or Bundaberg resident with a CCTV system installed to go online and register it,” he said.
Minister Ryan said the Community Camera Alliance provided an opportunity for police and residents to work together to make communities safer.
“This QPS-led initiative promotes a positive relationship between the community and the police, providing local residents and businesses an opportunity to be actively involved in protecting their neighbourhoods.”
Maryborough MP Bruce Saunders welcomed the initiative as another way of connecting police and the community.
“Community members often ask what more they can do to assist local police, and the Community Camera Alliance provides an effective way for residents to help prevent and solve crime,” Mr Saunders said.
“This initiative is a great example of how local police and residents can work in unison to make the community a safer place to live.”
