Camera-shy Justice Minister rapped over closed circuit TV system for Castlebar

16 December 1998

By TOM GILLESPIE

THE Minister for Justice has been accused of not having any great interest in the proposal by Castlebar Chamber of Commerce to co-operate with local Gardai in the provision of closed circuit television monitoring of specific locations within Castlebar town.

This is the view of local Dail Deputy Enda Kenny who has quizzed the Minister on the proposal in Dail Eireann.

The Minister confirmed to Deputy Kenny that twenty-six applications were received for the installation of such systems which have already been put in place in various city centre locations in Dublin and elsewhere.

Deputy Kenny said applications were also submitted, though of a lesser nature, from both Westport and Ballina.

Deputy Kenny stated: "The important thing to bear in mind here is that the traders, business people working within the Castlebar Chamber of Commerce provided in excess of £13,000 to buy the cameras necessary to run the Castlebar scheme."

The Minister said the Advisory Committee established by the Garda Commissioner to examine CCTV systems as an aid to policing and to evaluate each application had received 26 applications.

Six locations ˆ Bray, Cork, Dublin (South Central), Dundalk, Finglas and Limerick ˆ had been prioritised.

The remaining applications, including Castlebar, were still under consideration by the committee and it was anticipated that further schemes would be scheduled in due course as resources permit.

Minister O'Donoghue stated: "Each of the applications will be prioritised with regard to the respective levels of crime in the locations in question and the likely impact of a Garda CCTV system on same.

"It is also fair to say, however, that the commitment to existing schemes, as well as those prioritised by the committee, limits the scope for the extension to other areas at the present time.

"Funding for Garda CCTV systems is normally provided jointly by local community interests and the department of Justice.

"It has been the experience of the Garda Authorities that the cost of an efficient and effective CCTV system is, on average, £20,000 to £25,000 per camera.

"I understand that the Castlebar Chamber of Commerce has given some indication that local interests would be willing to fund the capital cosy of the entire system although I have no information as to whether the necessary funds have in fact been collected."

Mr. Kenny added: "The Minister again relies on a committee to report to him on priorities to be established before he will commit himself to assisting this proposal.

"This would appear to be contrary to his stated objective of operating a zero tolerance Justice department and of continuously requesting a co-operation of the public in order to deal with rowdyism, prevention of crime, a detection of personnel and a general updating of information for Gardai."

Deputy Kenny said there had been recent complaints about very large numbers of young people congregating at locations in Castlebar late at night, which had led to concern about the behaviour of a minority. He added: "I find it difficult to believe that the minister for Justice is not aware of the application of Castlebar Chamber of Commerce nor does he appear to be aware of the monies collected from business people, traders and the Chamber for funding the scheme."

Mr. Kenny had also asked the Minister for his views on the concept of CCTV monitoring public areas to assist in the prevention and detection of crime.

Minister O'Donoghue stated: "In my view the key factor in the concept of CCTV monitoring is that the placing of CCTV systems Acts as an overt deterrent to criminals. It also assist in allaying the fears of the community in relation to crime in the areas where such systems operate.

CCTV systems are not in any way a replacement for Garda personnel but are an aid to existing Garda resources."

In his Dail reply the Minister stated that the crime statistics for 1996-'97 showed there were a total of 108 recorded offences against property in 1996 and just 42 (42%) were detected and in 1997 there were111 such offences recorded and just 45 (40%) detected.

Mr. Kenny added: "The statistics given make the case from a detection point of view. The crimes it must be said are not deemed to be of a very serious nature, through inevitably in the rise and escalation of crime those who are involved tend to graduate from smaller crimes to larger crimes, therefore the operation of a CCTV detection system would be of particular importance and interest to the Gardai in Castlebar town in their work to assist and protect the civilian community."

Mr. Kenny also asked the Minister to inform him of the capital outlay and manpower hours on a weekly basis to provide Garda assistance in the monitoring of CCTV systems for the detection of prevention of crime.

Minister O'Donoghue's reply stated: "I am informed by the Garda Authorities that there are 492 weekly man hours expended at present to provide a dedicated Garda response to monitoring CCTV systems. The related weekly wage cost is £4,920."

Connaught Telegraph - News & Sport - December 1998