The City of Casey has secured a $900,000 Commonwealth Government 2026-28 Strengthening Community Safety — Election Commitment Grant to fund the procurement and deployment of three mobile CCTV police operated trailers across the municipality.
The project will be delivered over three years, with Victoria Police determining the locations of the trailers based on crime data and community need.
City of Casey Mayor Cr Stefan Koomen said the outcomes of this community safety initiative will not only benefit Casey residents, but also provide valuable insights for other councils considering similar approaches.
“The project will be independently evaluated by Deakin University to assess its effectiveness and value for money, providing evidence to inform future investment decisions beyond the grant period,” he said.
"Casey is the only municipality in Australia undertaking this research, providing a strong evidence base to ensure future ratepayer expenditure is targeted, effective, and in the best interests of the community.”
Cr Koomen said by combining mobile CCTV trailers with established Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) principles and independent evaluation, Council can make informed decisions about future community safety investments.
“If CCTV is shown to have limited impact, the evaluation will assess safety measures that have been funded as part of the grant, such as improved lighting, bollards and environmental design improvements, to ensure future decisions are evidence-based," he said.
Cassandra Fernando MP said, "People across my electorate have been rightly concerned about the crime rates across Melbourne’s south-east, and community safety remains one of the issues residents raise with me most often.
“I am proud to have secured funding for this nation-leading program through the City of Casey to help improve safety in our local community.
“While I understand that three mobile CCTV trailers alone will not solve the challenges we face, this project is about more than just the equipment. Through the independent evaluation being undertaken by Deakin University, we will build a valuable evidence base about what works to reduce crime and improve community safety.
“I am hopeful that the research generated through this initiative will help inform long-term solutions, ensuring future investments deliver the best outcomes for our community.”