Byron Bay police and several community groups have renewed their calls for closed circuit TV cameras in the main street following yet another incident involving drunken youths in the town centre last week.
On Thursday night police resorted to capsicum spray against a group of youths who tried to attack them. Police have since arrested a 24-year-old Suffolk Park man and more arrests are expected.
The incident has triggered further calls from Byron Bay Superintendent Stuart Wilkins and Byron United president Paul Waters to have cameras fitted at Jonson Street hotspots.
But Byron mayor Jan Barham is not a fan of CCTV cameras as she says they are rarely monitored and mostly used for collecting evidence after an incident.
She has invited police to a public meeting to discuss the issue of binge drinking and alcohol-related violence in the town.
If they had any brains they would legalize marijuana.Be no attacking cops then.Marijuana would create a peaceful co-operative society.There is proof marijuana is helpful for just about everything.
Wake up society.
Would it be more fruitful to PREVENT aggressive behaviour. It is a SOCIAL issue. Of course these incidents are becoming common in Byron Bay, why is that so surprising? CCTV, capsicum sprays, tasers, etc. only aggravate the problem. I saw this coming 15 years ago, it is straining the obvious. Just look at the Gold Coast.
Jan’s attitude proves how out of touch she has become, and why she is rapidly fading away as the FORMER mayor of Byron Shire. It doesn’t take a genius to realise that it is the deterrent factor that makes CCTV cameras an effective tool in crime prevention, and of course the fact that they collect evidence to aid in prosecution, of both the criminal behaviours of both sides of the equation. The stories one hears about certain police behaviour at times mean both sides could use the evidence collected.
A “24 year old” is a youth?
CCTV cams were installed throughout Lismore’s CBD a decade and a half ago. Despite their being right outside premises that were burgled (frequently!) they caught nobody.
The only “criminals” caught by Lismore’s CBD cams have been desperates taking a leak at 4am in deserted back lanes.
Why should cams in Byron be any different? Waste of money.
Alcohol fuels the violence. Let the alcohol industry foot the bill for adequate policing.
Binge drinking and late night violence are becoming a feature of street life around the world. I agree that it is the responsibility of liquor outlets who enjoy absurdly late closing hours and resulting profits to pay up or pick after after their patrons hit the streets (and each other).
Earlier closing hours, booze buses street beat patrols and zero tolerance for violent events are far more effective than CCTV