Council greenlights expansion and upgrade of Safe City Camera Network

The City of Melbourne is moving forward with Safe City Camera Program as a part of its crackdown on city crime.

At the July 29 council meeting, councillors unanimously endorsed a review of the program, paving the way for expanded capabilities, including artificial intelligence (AI) integration and broader public safety applications. The motion was moved by Cr Rafael Camillo and seconded by Cr Gladys Liu.

“These cameras play an important role in crime prevention,” Cr Camillo said. “There is huge potential for them to be used in more ways, such as assisting with street cleaning and utilising AI to enhance efficiency and responsiveness.”

“The report also carefully considers data protection for our community,” he added.

The City of Melbourne has committed $1.6 million to upgrade its Safe City Camera technology in preparation for a broader network expansion planned for 2026.

Lord Mayor Nick Reece welcomed the increased investment into the program, saying the initiative provided a strategic framework for improving public safety.

As part of the review, the council is exploring the use of the camera system to support responses to a wider range of urban issues including graffiti, illegal dumping, and property damage.

It also plans to investigate the use of AI software to track the movement of people and vehicles, and to analyse crowd density. 

This could help authorities manage busy areas and reduce the risk of overcrowding during major events or peak periods.

The endorsed review will now move to a community consultation phase before a final policy is adopted later this year. •