Pictured: Tamworth Regional Crime Prevention Working Group Chair, Councillor Russell Webb, Oxley Police District Inspector Jeff Budd and Member for New England, Barnaby Joyce, with part of the new CCTV network in Tamworth.

Criminals are on notice in the Tamworth region with the rollout of about 20 Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras funded under the Federal Government’s Safer Communities Fund.

About half will be installed in the Barraba, Manilla and Kootingal communities and the remainder in Tamworth.

Member for New England, Barnaby Joyce, said the new security provisions complemented Tamworth’s existing mobile CCTV trailer which was also funded by the $956,000 grant to Tamworth Regional Council.

“Security should not just be for Tamworth, it should also be for the surrounding towns and that’s what this program of Safer Communities is delivering for us - providing peace of mind that if something goes wrong, someone is watching,” Mr Joyce said.

“It will also assist in the court system by providing evidence such as who did what to whom or property.

“Along with that we also have a mobile camera to position in areas where we need better oversight such as during the Country Music Festival.”

Tamworth Regional Crime Prevention Working Group Chair, Councillor Russell Webb, said he was grateful for the community support of this project since the first cameras were installed more than 10 years ago.

“This funding round was provided in late 2018, to be used over a two year period. In that time, we have welcomed a new mobile CCTV trailer and additional cameras in the Tamworth CBD. We have also improved the image quality and storage capacity of our current network,” Cr Webb said.

The Safer Communities Fund provides grants of up to $1 million for security infrastructure initiatives that address crime and anti-social behaviour, help reduce the fear of crime, increase feelings of safety, and contribute to the safety of communities.

(ENDS)