Police watching from afar

Acting Senior Sergeant James Ure, at the Dunedin Central Police Station, monitors CCTV video...
Acting Senior Sergeant James Ure, at the Dunedin Central Police Station, monitors CCTV video feeds from Queenstown and Wanaka yesterday. Photo by Peter McIntosh.

Dunedin police monitoring CCTV screens are now able to keep an eye on Queenstown and Wanaka and will soon be watching Southland.

The Dunedin Central Police Station has gained access to 18 surveillance cameras in Queenstown and seven in Wanaka.

The cameras, like 27 set up across Dunedin, are live 24 hours a day and monitored by police staff at the station's Southern District Command Centre.

District prevention manager Inspector Mike McIlraith said the camera surveillance was another safeguard for the region.

''It gives the community some additional reassurance that, if required, police can look at the footage that's available.''

Insp McIlraith said the command centre was not always manned, so the cameras would not always be monitored.

The process of linking the cameras to the station had been long and technically difficult, and was finally completed three weeks ago, he said.

New Zealand Police southern district communications manager Nic Barkley said no extra staff would be rostered at the command centre to monitor screens, as recorded footage would be used primarily during investigations.

Mr Barkley said gaining access to CCTV footage in Gore and Invercargill was expected to be achieved soon.

By then, all major towns in the region would be covered, he said. Police were not planning to link with other CCTV cameras elsewhere in the region.

The cameras in Queenstown and Wanaka are owned and maintained by the Queenstown Lakes District Council but managed by police in those towns.

QLDC communications manager Michele Poole said police approached the council about linking to Dunedin and the council agreed on the basis it would provide 24-hour surveillance and improved security.

The respective police stations had managed the cost of the development, she said.

Dunedin and Queenstown police were not able to say how much it had cost.

Senior Sergeant Paula Enoka, of Queenstown, could not confirm whether all the resort's CCTV cameras were being monitored in Dunedin.

But police and the council were working together to determine locations for further cameras in the resort, she said.

Snr Sgt Enoka said CCTV footage for Queenstown's cameras was kept for 30 days.

Mr Barkley could not confirm how long footage from Dunedin's cameras was retained.

Wanaka police could not be reached for comment.

damian.george@odt.co.nz

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