Community safety & CCTV
Cairns is a safe community however local police encourage locals and tourists alike to think about some simple crime prevention strategies to help improve your safety.
Council's commitment to community safety and crime prevention is based on building partnerships with community members, services and government, taking a proactive approach in the prevention of crime, and using urban design principles. Partnerships with residents, business, various council departments, and local and state community safety and emergency services organisations, have enabled crime prevention and more broadly, community safety, on a number of levels:
- Immediate action: local solutions to local problems
- Education and awareness raising
- Long-term solutions: prevention by design and strong policy direction.
Council is dedicated to creating a region that promotes community safety and positive community relations. Our Cairns community safety program is extensive, with major focus on the following areas:
- Crime prevention through environmental design
- Safety audits
- Community awareness and education
- Research into current trends in crime reduction and crime prevention
- Public space
- Age and gender related issues
- Drug and alcohol related issues
- Advocacy on behalf of community groups.
- Support for agencies undertaking other community safety projects.
Cairns Community Safety Plan - CBD Pilot
On 1 June 2022, Council endorsed the Cairns Community Safety Plan - CBD Pilot 2022-2026.
The Plan consists of a framework to quantify the current level of behaviour, introduces intervention options and measures the performance of those interventions. The Cairns CBD and fringes has been chosen as the pilot site due to the endurance of anti-social behaviours in this location and the significant effects on CBD users, residents, businesses and tourists.
CitySafe closed circuit television operations
The CitySafe CCTV System is a network of closed circuit television cameras installed in the Cairns Central Business District (CBD), and other locations as determined by Council.
The City Safe Officer is appointed responsible for the practical operations of the Cairns CCTV System, including ensuring that at all times the system is operated in accordance with Council Policies, guidelines and relevant legislation.
- To identify and prevent illegal and/or inappropriate behaviour in the Cairns CBD that has the potential to alarm or threaten citizens, or to result in damage of property and the good order of the Cairns CBD.
- To permit the controlled provision of information by Council to the agencies of the Department of Emergency Services (Police, Ambulance, Fire) and to other statutory bodies with powers to prosecute to enable the development of effective responses to observed incidents.
- To assist in identifying and coordinating responses to incidents that negatively impact public safety for the community and visitors to Cairns.
- To obtain reliable information that may be used as evidence.
- To operate according to recognised industry standards and legislation, as detailed in the Operating Procedures, in relation to the provision of security services and risk management.
- To operate with efficiency, impartiality and integrity.
- To acknowledge that personal protection has priority over property protection.
- To ensure that the public interest is paramount over the privacy of the individual and the private interests of system operators.
- To operate with regard to the public requirements for due care, diligence and confidentiality.
Note: CCTV Video footage is only stored for a maximum of 30 days before it is overwritten.
Access to Council's CCTV camera footage is restricted as outlined below:
- Council's CCTV policy governing access to footage is guided by the Information Privacy Act 2009 and the Right to Information Act 2009.
- For general members of the public, access to CCTV data must be made through a formal written order issued by a body with administrative or judicial jurisdiction for example court orders, warrants, prerogative writs and subpoenas.
Applications to view Council's CCTV data may be made by:
- Police
- Statutory bodies with powers to prosecute, for example:
- Department of Environment and Science
- Department of Agriculture and Fisheries
- Department of Community Youth Justice and Cultural Affairs
For the purpose of:
- providing evidence in criminal proceedings
- providing evidence in civil proceedings
- preventing and reducing crime and disorder
- investigating and detecting crime (including identifying offenders)
- identifying witnesses.
Members of the general public are advised to speak with police to obtain footage or seek legal advice.
If your enquiry relates to any of the above purposes, a request can be made through a formal written order issued by a body with administrative or judicial jurisdiction - eg court orders, warrants, prerogative writs and subpoenas.
Access CCTV footage
Note: Use the form below if you are a member of the police force, other enforcement agency or a legal representative acting on behalf of a client and with legal documentation.
Members of the general public and legal representatives without documentation, need to contact the Right to Information Officer on 07 4044 3114 or email RTI_IP@cairns.qld.gov.au, with some information regarding the footage you seek, as an initial enquiry.
For more information please visit our Right to Information Page
Last Updated: 12 August 2022
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