Call to share CCTV with police

Events such as the London bombings have highlighted the importance of closed circuit television footage (CCTV) in identifying offenders.

The Lake Illawarra Police is calling on Illawarra business owners who operate CCTV to share their resources and register their details for the benefit of the community.

Sergeant John Klepczarek of the Lake Illawarra Local Area Command (LAC) said the LAC encouraged businesses to support the NSW Police Force’s VIEW project initiative.

“The VIEW project focuses on improving access to CCTV footage for NSW Police investigators,” Sgt Klepczarek said. “It will record the location of closed circuit television camera systems across the state, ensuring rapid police access to all available footage,” he said.

Sgt Klepczarek said that combined with other strategies used by the NSW Police, the VIEW project allowed the LAC to work with the community to reduce crime, violence and fear locally.

The registration process should take no more than ten minutes and can be done in two ways:

1) Online at www.police.nsw.gov.au/cctv_register

2) Manually via a CCTV registration form.

Sgt Klepczarek said business owners could be assured that the information would be stored in a secure database owned and operated by the NSW Police Force.

Only authorised persons will be able to access the information.

To obtain a registration form, call 4295 2699.