Minister joins Beaumont Street safety walk as CCTV push grows

newy.com.au – Minister for Police Yasmin Catley has joined Member for Newcastle Tim Crakanthorp, police, council representatives and local business owners on Beaumont Street in Hamilton to discuss community safety and the role of CCTV.

The walk-through followed a series of community concerns about crime and anti-social behaviour in the area, with Crakanthorp pushing a whole-of-community approach and calling for the installation of CCTV along the busy dining and retail strip.

Catley and Crakanthorp were briefed by Newcastle City Police and met traders and residents to talk about local policing, reporting crime and the potential benefits of extra cameras on Beaumont Street. Police and local leaders are encouraging people to report non-urgent incidents to the Police Assistance Line on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers NSW on 1800 333 000, and to call 000 in life-threatening situations.

Crakanthorp said Beaumont Street’s character and diversity were central to the push for a safer precinct. “Beaumont Street is a multicultural hub and home to so many great local businesses,” he said.

Newcastle City Police have been conducting proactive patrols around Hamilton and letterboxing residents with information on how to report crime effectively. The patrols form part of Operation Confidence, a targeted effort by NSW Police to increase their presence and patrols in Hamilton following community feedback.

Crakanthorp said he convened community meetings in January and April 2025 to bring together residents, businesses, police and service providers to coordinate a response to crime and anti-social behaviour. One outcome was an agreement for NSW Police to work with the Hamilton Business Improvement Association on a Community Safety Panel that will carry out a formal Community Safety Audit of the area.

Alongside enforcement, support services are being stepped up for vulnerable people on Beaumont Street. Homes NSW Assertive Outreach workers are continuing to engage with people experiencing homelessness on the strip, while Mental Health NSW has introduced a specialised Mental Health Housing Liaison Officer to work alongside outreach teams to support people sleeping rough and experiencing addiction.

Crakanthorp said there was no quick fix to the issues being raised by locals. “There is no single solution to tackle antisocial behaviour in Hamilton. It will require a whole-of-community and whole-of-government response,” he said. “The engagement from all stakeholders has been fantastic and I am committed to continuing to facilitate collaboration however possible.”

The Newcastle MP has also launched a petition calling on the City of Newcastle to install CCTV on Beaumont Street, arguing cameras are a proven tool for improving public safety and assisting police investigations. “On Saturday I launched a petition calling on Council to install CCTV on Beaumont St. That petition is available to sign at my office or at businesses along Beaumont St,” he said.

Residents and business owners are being urged to continue reporting incidents to police and to participate in the evolving community safety work, including the forthcoming Community Safety Audit and the CCTV petition, as authorities and local leaders look to shape the next steps for Beaumont Street.