Cameras installed at Mt Coot-tha over women's safety concerns

ABC NEWS (Australia)

Security cameras have been installed across Brisbane’s Mt Coot-tha walking tracks after several women claimed to have been threatened or attacked in recent months. Authorities insist they're doing all they can.

Transcript

00:00The network of trails criss-crossing Mount Coot-tha has been an inner-city sanctuary

00:06for years, but a series of menacing incidents against women has left many running scared.

00:12Definitely going in a pair, I don't think I would walk around by myself.

00:17I think usually I would, but knowing what's happening here I wouldn't.

00:20It's had a massive, massive change to how everyone's training, because for a lot of

00:24women they're doing ultra events and they need to train for four to six hours.

00:28Karen Spencer is part of a trail running group and says some runners have taken precautions.

00:33A few of the female trail runners that I run with have personal alarms.

00:39They pull the pin on it like a grenade and it emits a really high-pitched noise.

00:44The Lord Mayor has announced a network of 80 cameras have been installed across the

00:49reserve.

00:50They'll cover all entries and be monitored 24-7 from the city.

00:54They could be anywhere at any time and some of these cameras are hidden in trees and nooks

00:59and crannies and so you won't see the cameras, but they're there.

01:02It's almost two months since the first reported incident, but the Lord Mayor rejects criticism

01:07the Council's been too slow to act.

01:09There certainly hasn't been a delay.

01:11We moved very quickly, as did the Queensland Police.

01:15As fear among women using these trails grows, many have taken to carrying items to defend

01:21themselves or simply stopped their walks altogether.

01:24There's hope that these new cameras will provide the sense of safety they need to return.

01:30Police are still investigating one claim of attempted sexual assault.

01:34Another complaint has been withdrawn.

01:36There's been some follow-up Crime Stopper reports and that's not unusual.

01:40Police insist they're doing all they can and will look into each case as it comes.

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