Keeping Community Crime Rates Down

With a spate of violent crime across Australia from the onset of 2023, it is more important than ever for local governments and authorities to take proactive measures to keep crime rates down.

After the COVID-19 pandemic, businesses and activities are returning to normal, and unfortunately, this also includes criminal activity. Dealing with the consequences of crime in communities can cost local governments millions of dollars and leave communities feeling unprotected.

One way to deter criminals is to set up surveillance systems to monitor public spaces and secured sites, but traditional systems can only do so much. Instead of just recording a crime as it happens, active surveillance can deter criminals from entering a restricted area, dumping waste or damaging property.

Tackling crime post-pandemic

In 2021-22, there was a three per cent increase in offenders prosecuted by police in Australia, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS)^[1]. Despite this, in most states across Australia, there was an overall decrease in crime in 2021-22. Even prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, crime rates had been steadily decreasing every year.

However, break-ins at home and unlawful entry into commercial premises have been increasing over the past few years. According to the ABS, two per cent of Australian households were broken into in 2021-22 – that equates to 194,100 homes^[2].

For certain states, unlawful entries are even exceeding levels prior to 2020. In Queensland, there has been a 13.67 per cent increase in unlawful entry and a 4.85 per cent increase in property damage between 2019 and 2022^[3]. Similarly, in the Northern Territory, crimes against property have increased by 20.51 per cent and property damage increased by 29.27 per cent in the last year^[4].

To reverse these increasing crime rates, local governments and authorities must turn to advanced technology to help prevent theft and property damage. Setting up camera systems may deter some criminals from trying, but only autonomous surveillance systems with active deterrence can actively respond to threats to prevent crime.

Active surveillance for deterrence

Traditional surveillance cameras can record offences taking place and that footage can be later used to prosecute offenders, but this retroactive response does little to prevent crime in the first place.

Unlike traditional systems, Spectur surveillance systems combine multiple cameras with artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud computing to offer autonomous surveillance.

Spectur autonomous surveillance systems can sense, think and act to prevent crime with cameras, sensors, AI and cloud computing working in tandem. Spectur cameras can detect

movement, focus on limited areas, and operate on a schedule, all of which helps to distinguish between real threats and false alarms.

Designed for deterrence, Spectur systems can prevent unlawful entry and property damage before a potential offender has the chance to break in or scale the fence.

Real-time response

If a threat is detected by the system, Spectur platforms can respond in real-time to prevent offenders from breaking in or causing damage. With the assistance of AI and sensors, Spectur systems can make decisions and take action – making it a “digital fence” to stop potential intruders.

When a threat is detected, Spectur systems can respond in a variety of ways. To deter potential criminals, Spectur systems can broadcast a pre-recorded message, sound an alarm, call for security guards, flash warning lights and alert asset owners immediately. On many occasions, this has been proven to make a criminal stop before committing a crime.

Spectur systems can also recognise number plates to restrict access to a site for any vehicle that is not permitted to enter, which can also be used later to identify vehicles in case criminals manage to break in.

Additionally, Spectur systems can provide peace of mind for remote or temporary sites. Using the Spectur app, personnel can view a live-feed and receive alerts no matter where they are. This allows for constant remote monitoring from any location with the convenience of checking footage from your mobile phone, tablet or PC.

The cost of crime

For local governments, surveillance can help keep communities safe and protect public spaces and infrastructure from damage. Spectur systems offer technology for local governments and authorities to monitor public spaces and deter crime.

According to the Australian Institute of Criminology (AIC), the total cost of crime in Australia during 2020-21 was between $24.8 billion and $60.1 billion^[5]. For both the public sector, preventing crime can not only keep communities, but also help save money replacing stolen goods or repairing damaged property, which can then be used on much-needed community programs and infrastructure.

Aside from theft or property damage, another problem for local governments is illegal dumping. Ensuring public spaces are safe to use for communities means preventing excessive or dangerous waste from polluting these spaces.

The cost of removing and disposing of items can mount up for councils, often reaching into millions of dollars per year. For local governments, an autonomous surveillance system can make it easier to monitor sites and save both time and money spent on dealing with discarded rubbish.

Looking out for communities

Turning to autonomous surveillance could make the difference between rising and falling crime rates in many communities. Instead of draining time, resources, funds and people to

pick up after criminals, authorities can prevent theft and property damage in the first place with surveillance that actively responds to threats.

With Spectur surveillance systems, local governments can keep their communities safe and keep crime rates down for years to come.

For more information on using Spectur’s smart solutions for preventing crime, call 1300 802 960 to talk to our team and find the right solution for your unique onsite challenges.