While there is debate as to whether CCTV cameras stop crime, there is evidence that suggests they are invaluable for investigating offences and assisting police in identifying persons of interest.

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With analogue CCTV is fading out especially over the past two years, the increase in digital CCTV installations is based on the advantage of better picture quality, without the grainy footage of a perpetrator committing a crime from analogue CCTV.

The whole purpose and benefit of a security system is to see what is happening in the moment. The analogue CCTV records on video tape “in the moment activity for future access” and does not broadcast actual live information.

Terry Williams from Home Entercom Services said “there has been an increase in digital CCTV installations especially in new homes and they’re more popular than alarms.  No one hears alarms or they don’t take any notice or owners forget to set them. Cameras are 24/7.

“There was an incident around four or five months ago where four houses were broken into in one night and one house had four CCTV cameras installed just that week, the owners hadn’t even moved in yet.  The house was robbed around 4:00am and the police had the footage by 10:00am. It was crystal clear, even though it was pitch black, the night footage is recorded in infrared black and white so it is very clear at night.

“You can even watch on your iPhone live with an app from anywhere even overseas.  You can freeze the image on your phone save as a photo and send through to the police,” advised Mr Williams.

Even though digital CCTV is revolutionising security measures and technology has evolved to allow for a more diverse security monitoring system, Mr Williams says “they are more affordable for businesses these days.  There’s been no major jump in prices so it’s affordable for anyone.”

Andrew Curren from Mowbray by the Sea reiterates the value of having six digital CCTV cameras installed at his business.  

“It is intrinsic in the general operations of a business to cover yourself for not only liability but security and gives you peace of mind should something happen. It’s the best investment we have had and gives you the reassurance that it’s going to be recorded. If businesses don’t have them installed now, it will be the way of the future and they will have them in years to come.

“We had an incident recently where several back packers got up to some mischief and swam in the pool.  We were able to identify them and passed this information on to the local police,” said Mr Curren.

Sergeant Damien Meadows said “Port Douglas’ licensed premisses have CCTV cameras as well as local businesses, which is great when footage is directly in relation to a matter occurring on that premises.  If a matter occurs on a neighbouring property or near the vicinity, it is still a benefit to police investigations to look at that footage to assist police.  We suggest you contact police and they will issue a Notice to Produce.

“In a recent case we had no identity of an offender, however CCTV footage resulted in the perpetrators being charged.

Sergeant Meadows said there is a two fold benefit to digital CCTV cameras, “firstly, they act as a deterrent and people notice them and therefore it changes their behaviour and secondly images give evidence of the offence and enables police to identify perpetrators. They go hand in hand in gathering evidence,” advised Sergeant Meadows.

While the benefits of installing digital CCTV cameras in local businesses and homes is evident, would there be a benefit having them installed in and around the CBD given that the installation requires no cabling only power and wifi.

If you have any digital CCTV footage that would assist police in any investigations identifying persons on interest, or can assist police in identifying these persons of interest, please contact Port Douglas police directly on 40871999.

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For more information on installing CCTV, contact Terry from Home Entercom Services on 0412 573 583 or email info@entercom.com.au

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