By NATALIE GALLENTI
PARENTS are seething after surveillance cameras installed to deter drug users from dumping syringes in an Albion laneway were stolen only weeks after they were connected.
Brimbank Council installed CCTV cameras in the laneway behind Albion Primary School in early March after months of lobbying from concerned parents who were being forced to constantly check the laneway and school grounds for used syringes.
The council confirmed that three weeks into the surveillance period the cameras, and associated equipment, were stolen with the theft reported to Victoria Police.
A kindergarten is located across from the laneway and another primary school is within close proximity.
Brimbank Council general manager for infrastructure and environment Paul Younis said the council is in the process of reviewing the footage.
“Once we have been through all of the available footage, we will be meeting with school representatives and the police to discuss the way forward,” Mr Younis said.
“In the meantime, council continues to undertake daily inspections of the laneway during the school week. We also continue to record the number of syringes collected from the laneway.”
However frustrated parents continue to call for further action.
Long-time campaigner and mother of two Paula Bissett said the cameras were successful in deterring drug users from frequenting the laneway and for a short period no needles were found, however since the cameras were taken syringes are being left in and around the school on a daily basis.
“We’re back to square one now. As soon as the cameras were up, it stopped, now we find syringes daily,” she said.
Ms Bissett said while the council was inspecting and cleaning the laneway before school, parents and teachers continued to find needles in the yard where children are expected to line up.
She said she was horrified to find a drug-filled syringe late last month which could have had dire consequences.
“We want the laneway shut down and we want to meet with council, but it just feels like there’s too much procedure to go through.”
A report on the outcomes of the CCTV footage will be tabled at an upcoming council meeting.
