Police have revealed challenges in monitoring 587 CCTV cameras across the NT, despite claims they are watched 24/7.
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Residents questioned the effectiveness of the CBD's new security cameras and loudspeakers after a 19-year-old allegedly smashed shop windows and car windows in a wild night of vandalism earlier in the month.
It now appears the vandalism spree on Katherine's main street went unseen and CCTV operators failed to action a scare-tactic message from the recently installed police loudspeakers bolted high along Katherine Terrace.
Earlier this month, grainy CCTV images revealed to the public a man smashing windows and even an ATM on Katherine Terrace in the early hours of the morning.
The incident took place in clear view of new, high-definition surveillance cameras and loudspeakers, which allow CCTV operators sitting behind screens at the Peter McAulay Centre in Berrimah to send a pre-recorded message or speak live to deter anti-social behavior.
Police have repeatedly claimed Katherine's network of CCTV cameras are watched around the clock, so residents used social media to question how Katherine's most recent rampage went unnoticed and undeterred.
There are currently 42 police CCTV cameras installed in 19 different locations across Katherine.
"I have spoken with the officer in charge of Katherine Police Station and he is not aware of any circumstances to date where the loud speakers [in Katherine] have been used," a spokesman from the Northern Territory Police said this week.
Katherine's CCTV surveillance came into question in February of this year at the height of the crime crisis, as almost one shop per day experienced a break-in.
But fears the cameras were not being watched in real time were quickly abated at a later community meeting.
Police Commander Michael Hebb confirmed "a staff member is allocated to Katherine cameras" at the meeting.
"Police have access to 587 cameras which are recording 24/7," a NT Police spokeswoman said.
"CCTV operators are able to review recordings to assist in crime reduction and prevention and keeping the community safe."
In response to inquiries from the Katherine Times as to whether or not the vandal involved in Katherine's latest crime spree was seen in real time, or whether the loudspeakers were used as they were intended to, the spokeswoman said: "we do not keep records of loud speaker activations so we are unable to answer whether or not they were used."
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