Victorian council rejects calls to install CCTV at crime 'hotspots'

A west Victorian council has refused community demands to install CCTV cameras in areas identified as crime hotspots, citing human rights and privacy concerns despite already using surveillance at its own facilities.

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The [CCTV] policy focuses on legitimate operational purposes such as protecting council staff, facilities and assets.

Residents in Stawell are urging the Northern Grampians Shire Council (NGSC) to deploy security cameras at the Stawell skate park, a location police have designated as a crime hotspot. This push follows years of council resistance to similar requests. Requests for CCTV at council-run skate parks date back to 2022, when a skate park designer recommended their inclusion during construction.

NGSC officials, including Mayor Karen Hyslop and director of infrastructure Jeevan Pinto, confirmed that previous requests for CCTV at another council-run skate park in St Arnaud were rejected two years ago. The reasons cited were the costs associated with installation, maintenance, and operation, alongside human rights privacy concerns. Mayor Hyslop stated these same reasons are why cameras have not been installed at the Stawell skate park.

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So we do have them at a few of our buildings in the shire.

However, when questioned, neither Mayor Hyslop nor Mr. Pinto indicated that any residents had voiced privacy concerns regarding potential CCTV installations. Mr. Pinto noted that cameras outside council buildings might inadvertently capture public areas, as their field of vision cannot be restricted solely to council property.

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It needs to be focused outside at the front door so some might be outward facing … you can't limit how far the camera can see.

Jessica Lees, a Stawell mother, expressed frustration, calling the council's stance "ridiculous." She highlighted the disparity between the council monitoring its own workplaces while neglecting a public asset like the skate park, which is a known crime hotspot. Lees argued that installing cameras would be a serious step toward reducing vandalism, improving safety, and protecting community infrastructure. She and other mothers are collecting data through an online survey to support their proposal for cameras in the town center, sports fields, and the skate park, with over 300 responses already received. Lees shared personal experiences of theft affecting her child and their friends at the skate park.

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You can't black out the areas which extend beyond the property.