Amongst the technological boom of smartphones, apps and the internet; the development of Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras surveilling Melbourne has become a prevalent member of society. 
Acting as a ‘watchdog’ over Melbourne’s CBD, CCTV uses video surveillance cameras to record and monitor Melbournians.
After the violent death of Jill Meagher, The City of Melbourne called for a rollout of CCTV cameras to be installed around Melbourne hotspots.
CCTV had a critical role in piecing together Meagher’s last moments to identify her murderer.
Six months after Meagher’s death, CCTV had an even more crucial role to detectives as cameras captured extensive footage of a stabbing of a man in Fitzroy, indicating the sequence of events culminating in his death.
Currently installed around 53 locations in Melbourne’s CBD, Melbourne’s Lord Mayor Robert Doyle believes installing more CCTV cameras around Melbourne will fix crime rates and discourage criminal activity.
View CCTV Melbourne CBD locations in a larger map
Emulating London’s CCTV saturation, Melbourne will have up to 10 new cameras being installed within the next 6 months, starting in Hosier and Rutledge lane.
Within the near future Melbourne may be surrounded with CCTV cameras on every block, measuring every step of your daily routine.
CCTV cameras installed in Melbourne will cost the state $400,000 annually.
Each high resolution camera can swivel 360 degrees and has a powerful zoom that can identify faces from up to 500 metres away.
However, it was reported in 2009 that one crime was solved per every 1,000 CCTV camera.
So is this a question of necessity, or a waste of money and intrusive behaviour by the Australian Government?
Victoria Police Sergeant Rodney Hardy says the cameras are key to a safer city.
“The camera’s give the ability to record history.. capturing every movement of an individual. CCTV is an excellent way of deterring and assisting in solving crime, ” Sgt Hardy said.
With the Australian Government and Victoria Police supporting the idea, some Victorians are left wondering about their privacy.
“It’s a great device however I feel like my personal privacy is being intruded, I don’t want someone watching my every step knowing where I’ve been or where I’m going,” Melbourne University student Kade Mollison said.
Sergeant Hardy says any concerns to do with privacy should be discarded.
“The tapes are held for a short period of time, 99% of them are turned over each week, they’re not held indefinitely.” Sgt Hardy said.
“It’s a great tool for crime prevention and criminal activity.The police can’t be everywhere at once. These cameras let us be.”
According to a study by Australian Institute of Criminology, it is estimated that a monitored CCTV system of 20 city cameras was the equivalent of employing 30 full time police officers.
“Cameras won’t prevent the crime from happening in the first place, the money would be better off spent with police themselves roaming around the city,” Mr Mollison said.
Read the City of Melbourne’s Safe City Camera Program Audit Report: http://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/CommunityServices/CommunitySafety/Documents/SCCP_Audit_Committee_Annual_Audit_Report_2011.pdf
