An overhaul of all public CCTV in Ards and North Down has been demanded by local politicians after it emerged that only three incidents were reported from 18 cameras in the last reported quarter.
Over a three month period between April and June this year, the council’s 18 cameras across the borough, each of which require manning for 40 hours per week, recorded incidents which led to only three reports to the PSNI by the CCTV operator.
The incidents involved one assault, one unauthorised parade, and one incident of criminal damage. The cameras are located in Bangor, Holywood and Newtownards, with a control centre in Bangor.
At the recent full meeting of Ards North Down Council (November 24th) UUP Alderman Marion Smith said: “I really must question the cost of running a CCTV system and the results gained. The report presented covers April 1st to June 30th, the offences recorded using 18 cameras, 40 hours of recording a week.
"What was recorded during that time was one assault, one unauthorised parade - and I don’t think we need CCTV to tell us there was such a parade - and one criminal damage.
“I really think there should now be an overhaul of our CCTV system to bring it into the modern age, rather than spending this much time on so little. On three offences - with one that could have been reported by anybody? I ask officers to go back, look at the system, and see how it can be improved - in every way.”
DUP Alderman Wesley Irvine said: “Certainly this is concerning, given the amount of activity that takes place within our town centres, that over such a period of time so little was passed onto the PSNI.”
The council supported Alderman Smith’s proposal for a full review of the borough’s CCTV system, costings, and potential for improvement.
