LETTERS TO THE EDITOR FEATURED VIDEOS NEWS ARCHIVE POLL ARCHIVE

: CCTV's have proven to be very effective in other towns as a deterrent to night time offences

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Have your say !

Thomas Craige , 19-07-10 09:56:

While I totally agree with NameWithheld, the people who will be most surprised about crime in Port Douglas will be the police.

A lot of crime goes unreported as most locals know that if we phone at night we only get Cairns Police. By the time they take the message, determine where Port Douglas is on the map and organise a car, the people involved have run off, so as to commit a crime the next night.

Police think crime is falling, what is falling is the reporting of the crime as nothing is done/can be done about it. It is the wild wild west here in the evenings.

Editor , 19-07-10 09:15:

Yes thanks Dexter, I dont think you've quite grasped why we put the poll up for discussion. I think your idea for CCTV may be a tad illegal.

Dexter , 18-07-10 15:19:

It should be set up in Dougies sunbaking area.

Name Withheld , 18-07-10 11:22:

I'll bet most people would be surprised to find out how big the numbers violent encounters, especially premeditated, there really could be. I wonder how many locals have suffered attacks and vandalism without reporting it. If there is a camera, then it takes the responsibility off the victims, and gives irrefutable evidence directly to the police. Go for It. If it helps convict those who are holding our town to ransom its worth the imposition of being an innocent resident who it watched from above.

Pete Smith , 17-07-10 19:11:

I have just voted to maintain the safe reputation that Port D has made for itself over the years. But I wanted to make the point that it was not a vote for CCTV which I see as a reactive response to crime. Instead, I voted for a proactive Port Douglas that spread the word that the entire community does not welcome petty crime, drunkeness or offensive behaviour in any form and that the Port D community adopts this posture formally. But such a proactive solution to deterring poor behaviour only works if the community extends the philosophy to all; including some of Port Douglas's so-called "colour characters".

Bill , 16-07-10 19:48:

How can the "prosecutions go up, and instances (of crime) go down."? That doesn't make sense!

PARROTHEAD BOB HARPER, 16-07-10 13:32:

'O'Brother where art thou Do we need BIG BRO in PARADISE ?

John Rose, 16-07-10 11:05:

If a camera is installed then do it in conjunction with a webcam which has the ability to show off our beautiful town at anytime as well.
Zinc has one which I know gets thousands of visits regularly.
Those of us which do not live full time in PD yearn to see whats happening.
Turn an adversity into an opportunity!

Gary H , 16-07-10 09:45:

How can we have same number of police in the low season as the high season?

Port triples in population in the high season - sure they are transient, however it does triple.

Between 2:00am and 3:30am, the alcoholics leave their drinking venue and stagger home.

Some fight each other, some cause vandalism and some cause public nuisance. They do this becuase they can - no one is there to stop this.

Cameras will show the person who caused the trouble, but as most are tourists, most will have left Port and moved on. Impossible to catch anyone.

The only method is to have a visible police force. This means at 2:00am, police need to be seen in Macrossan St AND the side streets leading back to the resorts. Mudlo St, Davidson St, Warner St, Grant St, are just some of the streets where there needs to be a visible police force.

Obviously, if the police are out and driving around, there is less opportunity for these alcoholics to cause trouble.

This is not a reflection on our local police but surely their numbers can be supported by Cairns.

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Fri 16 July

Calls grow louder for CCTV cameras in Port

by Mat Churchill

Local business owners have called for CCTV cameras to be installed in Port Douglas to prevent crimes such as assault and vandalism.

Doug Calvert of 'Something Tropical' said these crimes are common. "It's an ongoing issue. My shops has been the target of many vandal attacks in the six years I've lived here, and the police are under-resourced so there is little hope of convictions."

"As a result of damage to my shops over the past five years I would have spent up to $20,000 to repair and replace items that have been damaged by late night party goers."

President of The Rotary Club of Port Douglas, Tony Dickinson, said they would be prepared to participate in a community project to fund the installation of CCTV cameras in town.

"I believe that this is (an opportunity) for the Port Douglas Chamber of Commerce to fly the flag in the name of local businesses’ interests. The local police would be extremely appreciative if something was done. From what I can discern many local business leaders see the installation of CCTV as a very necessary and positive step to make the streets of Port Douglas safe late at night."

Damian Meadows, Officer in Charge, at Port Douglas Police said they are in favour of the cameras, even though the overall crime rate is not increasing each year. "With the influx of visitors coming to town during the tourist season there is an increase of public nuisance cases."

"We would fully support the installation of CCTV cameras as video footage is very useful in our investigations." he said, and added the presence of the cameras have a two-fold benefit. "Everywhere CCTV cameras are installed they see prosecutions go up, and instances (of crime) go down."

Hot spots identified for these crimes include the main CBD area, areas near licenced premises, and Grant St.

So what are your thoughts? Should Port Douglas introduce CCTV cameras? Have your say on our latest poll.