Cr Henry Meskauskas said council should work to install CCTV cameras in Maitland’s Heritage Mall and Rutherford’s shopping precinct, even if the federal government did not provide the funds.

The city secured a commitment from the government to provide 17 cameras, worth $185,000, last August in response to a council application.

But the project was placed under review in November after the federal election. 

No outcome has been announced.

Initial plans involved the installation of 11 wireless cameras in the Heritage Mall and Maitland train station and six in the Rutherford shopping precinct.

Cr Meskauskas said he would raise the issue in the council chamber later this month.

“It would stop break-ins and malicious damage especially in Rutherford,” he said.

“Police are always talking about the good results they get from CCTV footage in detecting people who have committed crimes.”

Cr Meskauskas said he would suggest that council put a small amount of money away during the budget process so CCTV cameras could be installed if the federal funding fell through.

“CCTV is a terrific weapon to use and it’s a good deterrent. The results are there,” he said.

Central Hunter police Chief Inspector Greg Lindsell said the areas around the edges of the  Heritage Mall would benefit most from cameras.

“[CCTVs] are very effective tools, but someone has to shoulder the cost,” he said.

“We had a case [last year] when a jewellery store in the mall was robbed twice in a few weeks and without CCTV footage, we wouldn’t have caught those offenders.”

Federal Justice Minister Michael Keenan was unable to be contacted yesterday.