Big Brother is talking to you via security cameras in Ipswich

Ipswich Mayor Paul Pisasale


Courier-Mail

TROUBLEMAKERS caught in the act will be verbally confronted as state authorities add speakers to their surveillance camera systems.

The "Big Brother" bid would also see motion-activated cameras installed in areas where public safety has become an issue, such as the Brisbane Botanical Gardens, alleys and bikeways.

Ipswich City Council, which has 160 cameras, announced plans to introduce speakers allowing security guards to speak directly to people caught misbehaving on camera, and other councils may follow suit.

"This is not about Big Brother – it's about taking security one step further," Mayor Paul Pisasale said.

"It's being proactive, it's actually preventing the crime.

"Operators are watching it and if they see a kid walking too close to the water, they can get on (the speaker) and say, 'Excuse me madam, your kids are getting a bit close to the water'.

"Or they can see some kids hanging around and say, 'Son, I wouldn't do that'."

He said crime had fallen 78 per cent in the decade following the system's installation.

Brisbane CBD already has 60 cameras while the Gold Coast has almost 100 and Logan 11 fixed and 11 portable plus a security van. Queensland Rail has another 6000 cameras in stations, trains and carparks.

Brisbane City Ward councillor David Hinchliffe said the new technology would allow security providers to talk to people about inappropriate behaviour.

"The speaker system would allow monitoring room staff to broadcast in the mall in urgent situations," he said.

"They would need to be placed in strategic locations at mall entries, exits, near public transport nodes. They could be helpful as well when there are urgent public transport crises."

Motion-activated cameras are under review after being mooted at last week's BCC malls advisory committee.

Cr Hinchliffe said the council had already made a submission to State Government to support the security upgrade but was rejected. However, another bid should be made.

The cameras in the Brisbane CBD are monitored 24 hours a day, seven days a week by two council officers, who liaise with police.

Lord Mayor Campbell Newman refused to talk to The Courier-Mail.

Logan City Council community services chairwoman Hajnal Ban said the council would consider the results of the Ipswich trial but had used a mobile security camera van with speakers since 2004.

A recent group of youths drinking in a Browns Plains park had been dispersed after security officers used the van's public announcement system to warn them they were acting illegally.