City of Greater Geelong Mayor Bruce Harwood has paid tribute to what he described as 'a great team effort' involved in achieving the significant drop in crime figures across the Geelong region.

He said he was confident that the continuing close cooperation between Geelong police, the City of Greater Geelong and a wide range of community, business and service organisations.

The Mayor also paid tribute to the role of the Safe City Taxi Rank in Moorabool Street, the implementation of high-tech identity scanners at major entertainment venues, and the cooperation of street cleaners, fast food vendors and a range of community social clubs in helping to improve public safety in the City.

Chairman of the Greater Geelong Safety Committee, former Victoria Police Deputy Commissioner John Frame, said the collaborative approach to community safety outlined by the Mayor had set new standards in overcoming anti-social behaviour in areas such as Central Geelong. 

He said an illustration of the success of this approach was the major safety award - the Department of Justice Gold Award for Excellence and Innovation in Crime Prevention - that was won by the City and its partners last year.

Mayor Harwood said major contributors to this great outcome include the Greater Geelong Safety Committee, hotel and nightclub licensees, the Victoria Police Operation Nightlife - including foot patrols - the City's Nightlife Association, Central Geelong Neighbourhood Watch, the Night Watch Radio Program.

He said the City of Greater Geelong had sponsored one of the first Liquor Accords in the State, signed with local licensees in 1991, and aimed at reducing risks to the public in and around licensed premises.

The Mayor said the Accord, revised several times since then to take into account changing trends and public attitudes, had played its part in improving safety in the city area.

He said the City's network of CCTV cameras had materially assisted police in dealing a variety of street offences, and also acted as a deterrent to anti-social behaviour around key entertainment areas.

"The CCTV network has cameras located at key points around the Central Geelong precinct and is monitored at key times by specialist staff in the camera room at Geelong Police Station," the Mayor said.

The network is under constant review, and will be extended as required," he said.