ORANGE residents will be in focus by the end of the week, with at least a couple of the city’s network of 10 CCTV cameras up and running.

Adam Anderson of the installing company Celtron told the Central Western Daily yesterday the wire links for the system are virtually completed.

The wireless link will include Orange Police Station where a monitoring system will be set up.

However, officers will not be assigned to monitoring footage, but will utilise the tool to fight crime.

Three weeks ago the Celtron organisation installed antennae at various locations around the city, which will form an integral part of the network.

Once installed it is expected the fine-tuning process with the cameras could take a few weeks.

The installation of the cameras will bring to an end a debate which has been before council meetings on several occasions over the last 10 years.

Several years ago despite a trial with a camera under the roof of the Royal Hotel, and surveys conducted by the Chamber of Commerce among the business community, the project was shelved with council not prepared to fund the then $100,000 project.

This time the project has been helped along with a Federal Government grant and a substantial savings in cost due to cheaper technology.

Police say anyone participating in anti-social or criminal behaviour in the central business district has a big chance of being recorded on the cameras.