Criminals set to become TV stars

Crims beware: the CCTV cameras in Porirua’s city centre are to be manned fulltime.

Porirua City Council operates the 14 cameras, with the feed going to monitors at the Porirua Police Station.

However, limited police resources have meant the feed is not under constant surveillance, according to a report to the council’s Te Komiti last week.

In collaboration with Porirua Community Guardians, the footage will now be monitored.

Guardians co- ordinator Terry Ryan referred all questions to Sergeant Haley Ryan at Porirua Police.

Ryan said a recent decision was made by police and the council to have the cameras manned because it was a wasted resource otherwise.

She said it was not because of any spike in crime in the city centre.

‘‘No, not at all. We [police] would just love this to be up and running, and done properly,’’ she said.

‘‘We will run a rostered system with the volunteers from the Guardians, especially over those peak weekend times.’’

Two volunteers will be required per shift.

All those who put their hands up to watch the cameras will be required to undergo a police check.

Ryan said CCTV cameras have been acknowledged as a crime prevention tool. If people know they are manned, all the better, she said.

At the Te Komiti meeting, Porirua deputy mayor ’ Ana Coffey asked about a proliferation of signs in the city centre because the new cameras would have their presence advertised.

The council’s general manager of asset management and operations Peter Bailey said privacy laws were strict about informing people that cameras were watching them.