LAUTOKA City will become a role model for other urban centres in the country when closed circuit television cameras are installed next month.
This was revealed by National Security Minister Joketani Cokanasiga yesterday.
"Lautoka City is the first to have made an allocation for the purchase and installation of CCTV cameras and that's a plus," Mr Cokanasiga said.
"Once that happens, Lautoka will be a role model for other centres, no other town or city has done it.
"Suva has been talking about it for the past three years and Nadi has been talking about it for the past couple of years.
"If we are serious about protecting investment and protecting the community, then we need to take our cue from Lautoka and just do it," he said.
Mr Cokanasiga said the cameras would be installed in the central business district area and monitoring would be conducted at the Lautoka Police Station.
"Obviously, interpretation of images will only be done by the police and in the event that crimes do occur, this information will be used in the apprehension of criminals.
"I must commend Lautoka, they are in the forefront in the battle against crime," he said.
The National Security Minister said he hoped that other urban centres would take their cue from Lautoka and look to installing CCTV cameras as well in the near future.
"I am hoping through the media that people from other cities and townships will take up the lead that Lautoka has provided.
"I think it is important because crime is a situation that develops every 24 hours. People have a different concept of what is within the law and what is outside the law."