BUSINESS group Byron United wants CCTV cameras installed across Byron Bay's entire CBD to avoid a repeat of the death of a backpacker last year.

Colm Kenny, from Ireland, died after an alleged assault in Byron Bay's main street in May.

President Ed Ahern says business owners are concerned about public safety and are calling on the council to act.

“It's not acceptable to have that lack of security in this day and age,” he said.

Mr Ahern said many business owners, including himself, had already installed cameras, but there needed to be a more co-ordinated approach, with a centralised monitoring system.

He wanted the entire CBD watched, including the local parks.

Mr Ahern said the cameras were an effective deterrent to criminals because they produced indisputable evidence and led to convictions.

Inspector Owen King, of Byron Bay police, said police regularly used CCTV supplied from local businesses to identify people involved in criminal activity.

However, Mayor Jan Barham said a CCTV system was unnecessary and unaffordable.

She said about 75 percent of the CBD was already covered by CCTV and questioned its effectiveness as a deterrent.

“If Byron United wants additional CCTV, it has to be made clear what the purpose is and who is paying for it,” she said. “If it is for reducing crime, studies show it is only effective if it is being monitored all the time, and that would require someone being employed.