‘Deliver it or abandon it’ - anger over CCTV

Garda officials have been strongly criticised over the years-long delay in rolling out CCTV schemes in local communities, including Borrisokane and Roscrea.

Raising the matter at the June meeting of Tipperary Joint Policing Committee, Cllr Noel Coonan blasted the “disgraceful” way that community groups have been treated. Local people have given up their time and done everything they can to provide CCTV cameras. But he said the schemes remain held up by An Garda Síochána, which has for years delayed final sign-off over various issues.

“It's one problem after another; as soon as you solve one, you're into another one,” Cllr Coonan fumed at the JPC meeting. “What's wrong? Something is seriously wrong.”

He mentioned the long-planned scheme for his local town of Roscrea but pointed out that communities across the county have been frustrated by similar delays. That frustration is now turning to anger, he said.

DATA PROTECTION TO BLAME

Chief Superintendent Colm O'Sullivan said the matter is with the Garda headquarters in Dublin. Issues have been raised around data protection again and the CCTV schemes cannot get the go-ahead until these have been resolved.

Chief Supt O'Sullivan agreed to convey local frustrations to the Garda Commissioner.

Cllr Ger Darcy was involved in setting up the community CCTV scheme in Borrisokane. Local people put a lot of work into the scheme and got a sponsor, but that was several years ago and there has been nothing but delay since.

“As soon as you go back, there's a spanner in the works,” Cllr Ger Darcy said of the continuous setbacks. “We've lost confidence in people and it's going to be hard to get it back.”

Cllr Coonan said the impasse has been going on for four or five years, which should be long enough to address all outstanding issues. The schemes should be up and running immediately or the gardaí could forget about them. “Either deliver it or abandon it,” he told the meeting.