THE federal Government was yesterday accused of breaking an election promise to install security cameras in Darwin suburban shopping centres.

Shopkeepers said CCTV coverage would help combat crime.

More than 60 tracking cameras are to be installed in the centre of Darwin and Palmerston.

They will be monitored by police 24 hours a day and the footage stored for 30 days.

Wulagi supermarket boss Anthony "Scotty" Scott said the promise had been to install CCTV cameras in all shopping centres.

"We should be proactive ... the (city) security cameras are likely to push crime to the suburbs."

Solomon MHR Damian Hale accepted that an election promise had been broken.

He promised to lobby the federal Government to extend CCTV coverage to the suburbs.