An extra layer of crime prevention has been added to Te Anau's main street, following the installation this month of four security cameras.

The $25,000 council funded project has been in the pipeline since December 2019.

"It's another way of looking after our community" said Te Anau community board chair, Sarah Greaney.

One of four council owned security cameras now monitoring Te Anau's main street. Photo: Southland App

"It's nice to see it operational," she said.

Greaney said the operational side would be looked after by Police.

Greaney did not rule out an extension of cameras saying Police would monitor and if necessary come back to the [community] board.

Western Central area commander, senior sergeant Peter Graham said the key thing [about cameras] is their deterrent value for crime prevention.

It is not for spying on people he said

Most metropolitan areas now had CCTV systems operating.

While Police stored and had 24/7 access to the Te Anau data, it would only be used in the event of an incident, otherwise it would be overwritten every two to four weeks, Graham said.

He said Winton had three cameras and they had already been key to some apprehensions.

Police were now working to get cameras installed in Otautau and Tuatapere, he said.

Mobil Te Anau manager Rei Te Whana said he had only just heard about the cameras, but thought they were a very good idea.

He said while the [Te Anau] community was generally quite safe, Police would quite often come in to check his CCTV footage.

Te Whana said the extra cameras won't change things for him, but he was all for technology that helped the town.

The Fat Duck Gastropub co-owner Cameron Davies said the cameras were definitely a good thing and would only benefit the town.

He said Police had also dropped in numerous times to check footage on his CCTV cameras, so the council ones would add an extra layer of security.