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Council to look again at CCTV in Dungannon

Wednesday, 14 July 2010

A special Committee is to be set up to investigate the need and cost of implementing CCTV in Dungannon town centre, it was agreed at the monthly meeting of Dungannon and South Tyrone Borough Council.
However, the decision was only taken after division amongst councillors at the meeting.
CCTV would be a "useful weapon in the removal of fear in Dungannon town centre", according to SDLP Councillor Jim Cavanagh while Sinn Fein Councillor Larry McLaron said not only had he "ethical doubts" regarding the use of CCTV, but also strong concerns that it would push crime out of the town centre into housing estates.
At the monthly meeting of the Council, a proposal to establish a special Committee to investigate the need and cost of implementing CCTV in the town centre was won by a majority vote.
Sinn Fein members present at the meeting opposed the motion.
Cllr Cavanagh said he was surprised to see that the proposal to set up the Committee had been rejected at an earlier meeting of the Council's Development Committee.
He said the majority of constituents he has spoken to were in agreement with establishing CCTV in the town and added that they should be focusing on the "removal of fear as far as possible" and that CCTV was a useful weapon in doing so.
Cllr Frances Burton added that in all District Policing Partnership (DPP) and Community Safety Partnership (CSP) meetings, the issue was raised repeatedly.
“CCTV would act as an important deterrent providing to police useful evidence of misconduct. People acting in a sensible manner have nothing to fear," added Cllr Burton.
Deputy Mayor Pat Daly said voting against the establishment of a committee was the "wrong decision".
He spoke of an incident of vandalism at St Vincent DePaul in the town.
“CCTV would not have prevented this, but in the future it could prove an important deterrent," said Cllr Daly.
However Cllr McLarnon said not only had he strong "ethical doubts" but also that it could drive crime from the centre to housing estates.
Cll Francie Molloy added that CCTV was simply trying to give people confidence.
“Unless specific focus is available, it's not effective," said Mr Molloy.
“There are also equality issues. If implemented here, other towns and villages would want it, which the Council could not afford."
UUP Councillor Walter Cuddy said that CCTV would give people confidence promoting an "evening economy" in the town. He said that at the moment, people were scared and that was down to a lack of CCTV in Dungannon town centre.
Cllr Cavanagh added that CCTV was a "weapon against lawlessness".
Sinn Fein Councillor Phelim Gildernew added that CCTV was often unsuccessful in identifying criminals. He said he would like to see how many convictions there had been from CCTV in towns such as Omagh and Enniskillen, where it is currently operational.
The Committee will also consider the establishment of mobile CCTV cameras in the town.

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