UPDATE: Council to consider replacing CCTV cameras
Restoring sight to Newcastle’s Big Brother is high on the town’s priority list.
This is according to members of the crime-fighting community, comprised of the brave souls who put their lives on the line to protect the town and its residents.
It’s no secret that Newcastle’s CCTV system is crippled.
However, one representative in the law enforcement sector believes nothing can top a camera system as a crime deterrent.
“If the system works at 100 per cent capacity, people get scared off because they know they’ll get caught.”
The representative said because of one specific camera in Newcastle, 14 arrests were made in December 2018 including that of a murder suspect and hijacking perpetrators.
He felt that without a camera surveillance system, it was difficult to solve crimes.
“The data and footage gets stored for months and with that footage, it’s easier to link a person or vehicle to similar crimes in an area.”
Speaking on the failing state of Newcastle’s CCTV cameras, the representative stated this system was even more important because it was meant to cover the entire town.
He doubted the system would work any time soon however.
“It’s ridiculous that with the amount of money spent on the camera system, it doesn’t work,” he said.
Sector 4 CPF chairman, Johan Pieters explained that since an article appeared in which he called for privatisation of the CCTV system, there appeared to be a misconception around this concept.
He stressed privatisation did not equate to someone making a profit.
Instead, Pieters said the system should curb crime and protect the community, and believed the person to take control of the system should do so for those reasons alone.
“No money should exchange hands. We need to think how we can assist to make Newcastle safe.”
The municipality was contacted yet again for details on what plans were in place to restore the CCTV camera system to working order.
No response was received at the time of going to print.
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In the meantime, crime-fighters warned that a proper camera system was in place in certain areas of Newcastle and had already helped in making arrests.
“SAPS also has plenty of members who go out of their way to help, and apprehend the criminals identified by this camera system.”
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