FEDERAL Member for New England, Barnaby Joyce said grant applications for Round 2 of the Coalition Government’s Safer Streets Programme opened on 17 December 2015.
Round 2 of the Safer Streets Programme will invest up to $29.4 million in individual grants for local government organisations and eligible incorporated not-for-profit organisations, community groups, and chambers of commerce to implement community safety and crime prevention initiatives across Australia.
Mr Joyce said investment in security infrastructure at local crime hotspots would reduce fear of crime and contribute to greater community safety and resilience across the New England Electorate.
He said a Federal Government grant of $500,000 has funded 16 fixed cameras and the infrastructure they need to operate. It was also used to pay for three of the four mobile camera units the Tamworth Regional Council uses.
Mr Joyce also cited the worth of the mobile CCTV cameras, when police from the Oxley Local Area Command quickly apprehended an alleged sexual offender.
“In each mobile camera unit there are two cameras and the evidence collected from these units has helped Police to solve a significant number of crimes.
“For example, in lesser crimes such as hooning, popular spots in the city are no longer used by miscreants because they know there is a chance mobile camera units will result in visits from the Police and prosecution. These cameras can read a car number plate at 100 metres in dark conditions.
In terms of checking the spread of graffiti in Tamworth the mobile cameras have been very effective. In fact graffiti artists have sought, in talks with the council, to set up public space graffiti walls so they can carry on with their art and we can all view their work.
“I encourage potential applicants to contact my office to discuss their projects eligibility and to receive all submission details.”
Mr Joyce said the Government firmly believes all Australians have the right to feel safe and secure, and the Safer Streets Programme is one way we can achieve that.
“More than $19 million in funding has already been awarded under Round 1 of the Programme for projects across 150 locations to deliver security enhancements such as better lighting and CCTV in retail, entertainment and commercial precincts.
“Importantly, the Safer Streets Programme uses proceeds of crime - confiscated from criminals - to fund these local crime prevention projects. This means that the crimes of yesterday can help prevent the crimes of tomorrow.”
Further information on the Safer Streets Programme is available at www.ag.gov.au. To apply, please visit https://www.ag.gov.au/CrimeAndCorruption/CrimePrevention/Pages/ProceedsofCrimeAct.aspx
Applications close 2pm on 17 February 2016.