Calls are growing louder for Council to take action to ensure Port Douglas streets are safe, after two recent cases in one night sparked concerns from residents.

In September, Council rejected calls for CitySafe to be extended to Port Douglas, citing cost as the major factor.

"There are currently some physical and logistical barriers, which prevent the successful expansion of the cameras into Port Douglas," a letter from Council CEO, Lyn Russell, to the Port Douglas Chamber of Commerce read.

"At the moment we do not have coaxial or fibre optic links into the district and the use of IP addressable cameras is currently cost prohibitive."

CitySafe is a series of cameras which are monitored by Council employees who are linked directly to police. These employees can zoom in and track offenders, while police are notified.

Port Douglas Police Officer-in-Charge, Sergeant Damian Meadows said that while this decision was disappointing, incidents in Port Douglas of crimes such as assault were much less frequent than in Cairns. 

"Being linked with CitySafe would be great because police could be alerted to things immediately because someone would be monitoring it in Cairns.

"We don't have a level of assaults to the same extent of Cairns, we're a great deal down," he said.

"By no stretch of the imagination are we the crime capital of Australia."

Sergeant Meadows said the use of less expensive systems was still an option and would be welcomed by Port Douglas and Mossman police.

"I thought if we could have three cameras strategically located along Macrossan Street, and one in the park across the road in Grant Street that does a wide-angle of the whole thing it would certainly assist us.

"I don't see why we can't have fixed cameras that don't feed directly to CitySafe. For arguments sake they could feed back to the hard drive that is located at the (Port Douglas) police station.

"At least that way we would have the opportunity, if an assault or an incident took place, we could go straight to it and have a look."

He added that rumours circulating around town about recent late night episodes made life harder for police saying "rumours can twist and hinder investigations" as each report needed to be followed up by officers.

Sergeant Meadows said that Front Street in Mossman would also benefit from the installation of cameras, not just to help with reducing violent crimes such as assault, but for crimes such as vandalism.

He said cameras were "a vital bit of kit" in prosecuting offenders.

"At the end of the day we're just asking for another tool to assist us in providing a safer community."

A reader of The Newsport feature 'The Viewpoint - Fights, cameras, action' (Thursday 17 November 2011) has expressed his concern, and in doing so highlighted the potentially damaging affect on the tourism industry.

"HI yes im all for cameras in port due to everytime i have visted the place seen lots fighting late at night, should be alot more police on patrol not a place to take your family after dark trust me"

Another reader has since submitted a question to Division 10 councillor, Julia Leu, Cairns Regional Council Mayor, Val Schier, and State Member for Cook, Jason O'Brien, asking what action they will take.

We'll keep you posted on their response via our 'Ask Your Pollie' articles.

Related articles
Is this our most dangerous location? 
Council denies Port CCTV 

Read more of today's news. Check out The Newsport home page.