Nabbing the bad guys has got a little bit easier for Cromwell’s law enforcers, after the installation of security cameras in the town centre.

Local police hope it’s going to get easier still if number plate recognition cameras can be placed at the town’s entrances, snapping late-night travellers who may be up to no good.

Speaking for the NZ Police, senior constable Paddy Henderson told the Cromwell Community Board on Tuesday that cameras had been donated by Dave Horton and installed in the Cromwell Mall a year ago.

Since then they had snapped arsonists, shoplifters and people involved in three serious assaults, enabling police to identify those offenders. 

He said the national body did not fund the cameras or their care and local police were hopeful of community support. 

Retailer and landlord Gary Anderson was supplying wifi for the cameras but up to $500 was needed for annual cleaning and care.

Funds for an extension to the work had been applied for, through the Lot 47 charitable organisation, to allow number plate recognition cameras to be purchased and placed on all road entry and exit points to Cromwell.

These pole-mounted cameras would also need maintained and Paddy hoped the board might be able to help with that cost.  

The cameras would allow police to check vehicle movements late at night when criminal activity like drug dealing and theft was most likely to occur.

“It’s a win, win for the whole community because we are going to be able to identify anyone leaving town when there’s things like burglaries happening.”

Board chair Anna Harrison said while they could not give an immediate answer regarding funding when requests were presented in the public forum session of meetings, they would now be able to discuss it and hopefully bring the request before the next meeting.