FOOTSCRAY community representatives have called for the installation of police-monitored security cameras to help reduce crime and anti-social behaviour in the suburb’s main streets.

Councillor John Cumming, Footscray police and the Footscray Trader’s Association supported putting permanent CCTV cameras in Nicholson Mall and the city centre.

“The security camera system would have as many cameras as required by police on a number of sites, but mostly the CBD needs them,” said Cr Cumming.

He said the State Government would be the most likely source of funding for the proposal.

“They could even be interactive and if a group of people are seen behaving badly, someone could say over a speaker, ‘Look, you’re being watched’,” Cr Cumming said.

Footscray Inspector Ian Geddes said a security camera system “would be a help”, and he has been discussing the idea with the Maribyrnong City Council.

However, the president of Liberty Victoria, Michael Pearce, said security cameras often could not stop crimes and usually caused perpetrators to move into unmonitored areas.

But Inspector Geddes said the cameras would assist with investigations, faster police reaction times and reducing the crime rate.

He said he was not sure many cameras would be required, but police would want to cover “as much of Footscray as possible”.

He said police had temporary security cameras which they last used in the Footscray area around six months ago, which helped to “lock up upwards of 80 drug dealers” through supplying evidence.

Cr Cumming said a permanent security camera scheme in another Melbourne suburb had been successful.