SYDNEY, Sept. 16 (Xinhua) -- Around 1,000 small businesses in Western Sydney will be offered a grant to install high-definition closed circuit television (CCTV) surveillance, the New South Wales State (NSW) Government announced on Monday.
"Community safety is our top priority and these grants will help keep small businesses and communities safe from crime and antisocial behavior," NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said.
"CCTV cameras boost community confidence and send a strong message to would-be criminals that if you do the wrong thing, you will be caught and punished."
A key crime-fighting tool, the 5 million Australian (3.4 million U.S.) dollar camera initiative will offer 5,000 Australian (3,437 U.S.) dollars to not-for-profit community organisations and businesses with a turnover of less than 2 million Australian (1.4 million U.S.) dollars.
"CCTV puts the spotlight directly on offenders, to help reduce crimes like malicious damage, break and enter, shoplifting and assault," NSW Police Minister David Elliott said.
"Stepping up monitoring of small businesses, community organisations and key locations around Western and South-western Sydney will be a big help to frontline police."
