CALL FOR CCTV TO SOLVE CRIMES

HAVE you ever wanted to help police solve a crime?

Well, now you can, with the launch of a new initiative relying on homeowners and businesses with security cameras to help officers catch criminals.

Townsville Crime Prevention Acting Sergeant Yvette Starr (pictured) said a new registry would allow police to access a map of CCTV devices in Townsville, to determine whether any private cameras caught a criminal in the act.

Sergeant Starr said CCTV footage was vital to a police investigation.

“It is a crucial in- vestigative tool in modern day policing, and regularly used to solve serious crime, and is a valuable tool when used as evidence,” Sergeant Starr said.

“It maximises the efficiency of resources and minimises the loss of evidence.

“It’s gold for us … it helps us prevent crime and keep the community safe.”

Sergeant Starr urged any home or business owner with CCTV to register.

Their camera location would then appear on a map, and police would get in touch if they needed to check over their cameras for evidence. The program was also launched in Mount Isa and Cairns earlier this year.

The Townsville Crime Prevention team will be at Otto’s Warrina on Wednesday, from 10am to 11am, to launch the initiative and help people register.

You can also head to your local police station to sign up, or go online to www.police.qld.gov.au