CCTV delays queried
The difficulties posed by who should be the data controller for community CCTV scheme was raised in the Dail by Fianna Fáil TD Breathnach last week.
This is causing delays to a number of community CCTV in Louth getting up and running and was an issue raised at the recent Dundalk Joint Policing Committee meeting in Blackrock.
The community-based CCTV scheme is governed by section 38(3)(c) of the Garda Síochána 2005 and the Garda Síochána (CCTV) Order 2006, SI 289/2006, which specifies Local Authorities as the data controller for these CCTVs. This has caused problems with Local Authorities arguing that they are not the appropriate data controller when dealing with criminality.
Speaking in the Dail Deputy Breathnach said ‘ The programme for Government gives a commitment to tackle crime, and CCTV surveillance plays a large role in that. There are two schemes, the Garda CCTV scheme and the community scheme. The community scheme is not working. Twenty-two applications have drawn down about €500,000 of a €3 million fund.’ He asked the Taoiseach and the Minister for Justice and Equality to examine what statutory instruments or laws can be changed such that the data controller would involve a combination of the Garda Commissioner and the CEOs of local authorities to draw down this money and deal with criminality and crime, particularly in the Border area.
The Taoiseach said that they Government are very keen to see the money for community CCTV drawn down. He noted that Deputy Breathnach had raised the issue with him personally earlier and he undertook to get his office to look into the matter to see if anything can be done to make the schemes more operational.
Speaking afterwards, the Louth TD said: ‘It is my belief and the belief of many Gardaí that they are the ones who should be data controller of these CCTVs, not the Local Authority.
The Taoiseach and Minister for Justice need to work on amending the legislation so more of these schemes can become operational and we can tackle the scourge of crime we are seeing in Louth and right across the country.’