Brian O'Shea
Ceist:251 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the proposals, if any, he has to install CCTV in the Waterford constituency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16401/00]
Written Answers. - Closed Circuit Television Systems.
An application for a Garda CCTV system for Waterford city has been received by the CCTV advisory committee that was established by the Garda Commissioner to evaluate applications for Garda CCTV systems.
To date, the advisory committee has received in excess of 40 applications for Garda CCTV systems, as aids to policing. Six locations have been prioritised for the installation of such systems – Bray, Cork, Dublin – South Central – Dundalk, Finglas and Limerick. The extension of the Garda CCTV system in Dublin to include Grafton Street and its surrounding area and the installation of a CCTV system in Cork city are the CCTV projects currently being undertaken. The order in which the remaining priority locations will be undertaken has not yet been decided, although it is intended to commence the planning and implementation of Garda CCTV systems in each of the prioritised locations as soon as possible. I expect that the remaining applications, including that for Waterford city, will be prioritised soon and an announcement made at that stage.
Brian O'Shea
Ceist:252 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the locations where his Department has licensed the installation of CCTV; the extent to which, it is estimated to have been responsible for improving rates of crime prevention an crime detection; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16402/00]
I am assuming that the Deputy is enquiring as to the number of Garda CCTV systems that have been installed to date. My Department does not have a function in relation to the licensing of CCTV systems.
The position is that three Garda CCTV systems have been installed to date in the State – in Temple Bar, Dublin, O'Connell Street in Dublin and Tralee in County Kerry. The CCTV systems were funded by my Department and the local business communities. It is important to remember that Garda CCTV systems are an aid to existing Garda resources and, as such, must be viewed in the context of overall policing operations and carefully planned and integrated into Garda operational procedures. Applications for Garda CCTV systems are considered by the CCTV Advisory Committee that was established by the Garda Commissioner to evaluate applications for Garda CCTV systems. To date, the advisory committee has received in excess of 40 applications for Garda CCTV systems, as aids to policing. Six locations have been prioritised for the installation of such systems. These are in alphabetical order: Bray, Cork, Dublin – South Central – Dundalk, Finglas and Limerick.
The extension of the Garda CCTV system in Dublin to include Grafton Street and its surrounding areas and the installation of a CCTV system in Cork city are the CCTV projects currently being undertaken. CCTV systems will also be installed in other areas in the future as resources permit.
Garda CCTV systems can act as an overt deterrent to criminals. They can also assist in allaying the fears of the community in relation to crime in the areas where such systems operate. CCTV systems have been greatly welcomed in that they create a safer environment in which people can go about their daily business in the knowledge that criminal elements are unlikely to take a chance with the presence of CCTV cameras. CCTV systems may also be of assistance in the detection of crime, the identification of suspects and the efficient use of Garda resources.
Our experience to date of Garda CCTV systems shows that it has an important role to play in crime prevention and detection as well as in reassuring the public. The Garda authorities have confirmed its success and advised that assaults, drug-dealing, on street crime and so forth have dropped very appreciably where the cameras are in place. CCTV systems have also addressed a number of policing problems, that is, syringe attacks on tourists and at ATM's, anti-social behaviour and have proved vital to the success of a number of Garda operations. In this regard, a recent review by the Garda research unit has identified a number of key benefits which may be derived from the effective use of Garda CCTV systems: more effective management of resources; detection of events as they occur; increased levels of detection; reductions in certain categories of crime, especially robbery, larcenies from vehicles and burglaries; filmed evidence of events; filmed evidence may lead to guilty pleas and consequent reductions in court costs and reduction in the fear of crime.
There are also intangible benefits, such as a public "feel good" factor, that are difficult to accurately quantify but which are also equally important when considering a CCTV system.