And while this is happening, our fantastic police force are out catching real criminals. Hoons.

Agreed Diddy, and the rest of them are sitting behind the tinted window at the desk in the staion. I went down there one early morning to report suspicious activity @ 2am in the bridge mall, I waited at the counter for more than 20 minutes after pressing the buzzer several times. I ended up walking out !

Hoons bring in government revenue for John Brumby's christmas party locking up the real criminals costs the state government money. Only this year has the state government started to give the police some extra resorces to tackle scum like this and why it must be just a coiencidence there is also a state election coming up soon.

and chasing drunks out of pubs.

Every business large or small needs to take the responsibility to fight against crime. The Police catching hoons are potentially saving lives in Ballarat and all over, Police cant just drive up and down what ever street watching shops and businesses. SHop owners, if your that concerned and angry and upset, invest in camera's that may help the offenders get caught and retrieve stolen goods back. Atleast for insurance purposes they will for sure that it's an insurance claim scam. Not saying it is, just another benifit in catching these people and bringing them justice. Well done Ballarat Police for acthing these thugs that hoon around and put other people at risk. As for The Ballarat Businesses, secure your shops better and invest in crime fighting camera's. If every criminal knew that every business had camera's it would change the situation alot.

... and while your wearing the cost of increased security be sure to put up prices for goods and services. When will the advocates of CCTV admit it does little to stem crime without suitable punishment's for offenders.

What cost of increased security? It is $125 for a complete system on ebay....and you can install it yourself. A couple of cameras maybe another $50 and that is all a one time cost, so why would you need to raise prices? I'd say it's worth it just to be more protected and proactive.

When will the advocates of CCTV admit it does little to stem crime without suitable punishment's for offenders. Posted by fish1470, 11/03/2010 3:35:14 PM Good point fish1470 however with out cctv and other security you may as well leave your doors open with a note " help yourself" and just bend over and take it. cctv helped with the wheelchair bashing in nsw and will assist in the court case all be it the alleged offenders are 15 and 16 and this will be dealt with in a childrens court and i dont think much will come out of that crimminal case the victim still can sue in a civil court. You can bend over and take it or fight back !

Trust me anna, business will raise prices to cover any expenditure. David the idea that without CCTV your asking for it is just plain stupid. We have speeding signs and cameras but it doesnt stop people breaking the law, we have alarm systems which dont stop people breaking the law. Every time this subject comes up a select few pass the blame onto the victim, i wonder if you people would advocate the carrying of guns as self defence? CCTV is a deterant only when the criminals have something to loose, and only when the courts pass suitable punichments, until then its a joke which the people it aims to deter laugh at.

Very true David, CCTV is better than NO TV city camera system. But we are tlaking personal security here like Anna has tlaked about. Very true Anna!! People might say, Öh that;s alot of money!" But it's even more with insurance claims and loss of goods and more. I mean if somebody is going to rob you, you may as well make it as hard as possible. Personal camera's and set up isn't expensive. Anyway business owner that doesnt have a camera system is just a sittind duck. Only a matter of time, the thieves will get there! We are tlaking about two totally different matters here. One where CCTV monitors the street, and two where business and even home owners take responsibility for themselves. Also I have knowledge that The Bridge Mall's CCTV system with over 20 camera's now has help convict many theives and criminals. Then of coarse it's up the The Magistrates and current Law system, that's where we seem to be seriously lacking true justice. And after all, it's expensive to lock people up!! But it's more expensive to keep them out also for the crimes they dont get caught for and the one's they seem to get slapped on the wrists for? Makes no sense Legal System? It's laughable!