Posted: Sun, 14 Jul 2002 10:29 AEST- ABC Radio

Govt criticised over no funds for Cabramatta video surveillance

A Sydney councillor has criticised a decision by the New South Wales Government not to help fund a closed circuit television system at Cabramatta in the city's south-west.

Fairfield councillor Thang Ngo says the system costs $400,000 a year to run and with 85 per cent of incidents recorded being police-related, the Government should contribute money.

Councillor Ngo says police in Cabramatta have repeatedly stated that the system plays a key role in crime investigations and it should not be up to residents and local businesses to foot the bill.

"Our local member Reba Meagher is also the Parliamentary secretary to the Police Minister and she's promised to represent us strongly to the Minister to try and get something done about this," Councillor Ngo said.

"But they've had the meeting and the result is still that the NSW Police Service won't contribute a cent to the ongoing running of this system that's bleeding our community dry at the rate of $400,000 a year," he said.