This time, it’s over their placement at Sanctuary Point, where they will overlook a private car park. Under the act that governs them, this will require a special dispensation, which means the cameras will not be installed until that administrative detail is sorted out.

Interestingly, the discussion surrounding this latest hiccup has resurrected discussion about whether they will actually prevent crime. 

Council’s co-ordinator of community development Alan Blackshaw essentially confirms what many critics of CCTV have been saying for a long time, that they don’t actually prevent crime.

Their use is in gathering evidence so offenders can be caught. Mr Blackshaw has confirmed that while the cameras are gathering images from the ground at which they are pointed, no one is actually monitoring them so crimes in progress can be stopped. 

The big question for Sanctuary Point residents is whether the cost of installing and maintaining the cameras will actually offer a good return on investment. Will the cameras prevent the sorts of criminal and antisocial behaviour they are so concerned about? Or will they move it away from the shops and into residential areas? 

Will drunks and drug-affected people take any notice of them whatsoever?

Would that federal grant have been better spent on provided additional police officers to the Bay and Basin area?