THE city's CBD now has an additional 10 CCTV cameras in operation, following the completion of stage two of the CBD CCTV Project.
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The jointly funded project was the result of a $400,000 contribution from the Federal Government, along with $250,000 from Bathurst Regional Council with the expanded program seeing a total of 19 cameras operating throughout the city's CBD.
Federal Member for Calare and Minister for Decentralisation and Regional Education, Andrew Gee, said the additional cameras will go a long way towards increasing community safety and deterring crime and antisocial behaviour.
"Our local police do an extraordinary job protecting our community. This extensive camera network, totalling 19 cameras, is a vital weapon in the prevention and detection of crime.
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"Bathurst's community safety arsenal now includes state-of-the-art security cameras - some which are 360 degrees, others 270 degrees with the remainder being 180 degrees. Some are also pan tilt zoom cameras.
"Importantly there is live feed of the CCTV footage into the police station control room," he said.
The completion of the second stage included expanding the control centres, laying of fibre and the installation of ten cameras along William, Keppel, Russell, Howick and George streets.
Some five kilometres of footpaths within the city's CBD are now covered by the CCTV cameras, including known crime hot spots, where offences have occurred in the past.
Chifley Police District's highest ranking officer, Supt Peter O'Brien said the expanded CCTV program was one of police's most effective crime fighting tools. He said the footage taken was incredibly clear, and a great asset to his officers.
He said the footage is in high definition and can be stored for a significant period of time, and is admissible to court proceedings, adding the expanded CCTV program meant safer streets and a safer community.
"It is a fabulous addition to our crime fighting tools. We now have 19 cameras, hopefully we will have more down the track," he said.
While the expansion project was costly, Supt O'Brien said it would deliver "more bang for our buck".
"It live streams into our data base, and kept for a period of time. We can recall the information, and if it assists us we can then use the footage in court."
Mayor of Bathurst Bobby Bourke also welcomed the expansion of the CCTV program, and like Supt O'Brien said he hopes to see more CCTV in the future.
"These cameras are long overdue, and this is not the end of the program I'm expecting more to be put in," he said.