New CCTV cameras to support safety at Lygon St

A new CCTV camera system will service Carlton’s Lygon St precinct as part of a joint Victorian Government and the City of Melbourne effort to combat crime.

The Safe City Camera Network Expansion Project, announced late last year, will see eight new cameras installed along the popular strip.

Deputy Lord Mayor Nicholas Reece was confident that the CCTV installation would directly benefit those within the area.

“We've listened to Carlton residents and local businesses, and we are extending our camera network to Lygon St, so everyone can feel safe and welcome on this much loved strip,” Cr Reece said.

The Deputy Lord Mayor provided a specific message to “criminals, creeps, and taggers,” who he said, “will be caught on camera” and eventually “prosecuted” if they are “up to no good” in the area.

Live camera feeds will be monitored around the clock by police officers – both from the station control room and on portable devices when travelling to an incident.

New tracking technology will allow operators to follow individuals as they travel between Victoria and Elgin streets. There will also be cameras focused on Argyle Square.

Upgrades have cost $520,000 in total, with the state government and the City of Melbourne each providing half of the funds. 

The system has already been partially installed and is expected to be fully operational by mid-2024.

Cr Reece emphasised the importance of the CCTV network, and the positive impact it would have on public safety.

“The Safe City Cameras are like our guardian angels on the street, a powerful tool to catch those up to no good and keep the streets safe. Everyone deserves to feel safe in our city, no matter who they are, where they are, or what time of day it is,” he said.

Lord Mayor Sally Capp added, “Lygon St is one of Melbourne’s most popular destinations, and we’re making sure everyone can feel safe and welcome while enjoying this vibrant precinct.”

Minister for Police and Crime Prevention Anthony Carbines said the government was “proud to be investing in community safety initiatives and providing local communities the resources they need to improve public safety”.

Last October, councillors approved the expansion of the safe city camera program to include Lygon St, marking the first time the CCTV network has expanded out of the central city and Docklands.