NASKAM Security has installed an optical and thermal safety and security surveillance system in the town of Cooroy in Queensland.
The new Hikvision system incorporates 23 fixed and PTZ Hikvision Darkfighter cameras to a specification written by CCTV consultant, Doug Grant. Video footage from the system, which is monitored by local police in Cooroy, can only be obtained by police officers through a formal process of request during police investigations.
The Cooroy system incorporates number plate recognition and registrations plates of vehicles travelling along the main street can be displayed for the attention of operators and recorded for police investigators.
The system covers the Cooroy CBD, main street, skate park and the industrial park and was funded by a $200,000 grant from the proceeds of crime delivered through the Federal Government’s Safer Streets Programme.
Cooroy Chamber of Commerce's president Danielle Taylor told Noosa News she hoped Cooroy police would soon have the capability to monitor the town's CCTV cameras from mobile phones or iPads, giving greater flexibility.
According to Taylor, the new system was immeasurably better than the old CCTV system used by local police, which meant they had to visit each camera to download footage during investigations.
“Cooroy is open for business and closed for crime,” Taylor said. “We have a wonderful town and the Cooroy Police work very closely with the community and businesses. This funding will complement the great work Cooroy Police already do and will be strong deterrent to criminals ensuring that Cooroy continues to be a wonderful place to live and work.
Hikvision bullet and dual optical/thermal PTZ cameras being demonstrated during the selection process
“This project has been 12 months in the planning between Cooroy Chamber of Commerce and the Cooroy Police. It’s been an extensive process with a lot of work from volunteers but it is worth it as it will ensure that Cooroy sends the firm message to criminals that Cooroy is not an easy target,” said Taylor.
Noosa Police Inspector John Lewis said CCTV camera footage can make all the difference when offenders try to deny they were at the scene of a crime. Cooroy Police Sergeant Mal Scott is also impressed by the system.
“There are 23 cameras located at strategic points throughout the Cooroy CBD and they send live feeds back to the police station,” Sgt Scott said. “This system will definitely be a deterrent to criminals and the footage has already assisted in the capture of criminals in Cooroy.”
In the initial stages of the project, Volunteer in Police, Anne Winning spoke to all the retailers in town about having CCTV cameras located throughout town.
“Anne got overwhelming support for the project from all the businesses so we saw the value in the project straight away,” said Sgt Scott. “With input from myself, local businesses and the Chamber, we had CCTV specialist (Doug Grant) recommend the locations for the cameras which formed the basis of Cooroy Chamber of Commerce’s application for the grant”.
CCTV consultant Doug Grant said that he wrote the specification for the Coorong CCTV solution as a performance document in order to ensure the best operational outcome and not on the basis of cost.
“I studied the Hikvision equipment and was impressed with the technology,” Grant said. ♦
