Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 7 July 2004
287 Mr. S. Power asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the moneys that have been provided by his Department for the purchase of closed circuit television; if he has satisfied himself that the use of such technology is very helpful in the fight against crime; if it is his intention to provide extra resources for the purchase of more equipment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20643/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraA total of €4.881 million, including VAT, has been spent since 1997 on the supply, installation and commissioning of CCTV systems in the following areas: Dublin North Central; Dublin South Central; Tralee, Cork City, Bray, Dundalk, Dún Laoghaire, Finglas, Galway and Limerick. Provision has been made in the Garda Vote for 2004 for expenditure of up to €4.494 million on CCTV systems. This provision will cover existing financial commitments for the CCTV systems in Cork city, Bray, Dundalk, Dún Laoghaire, Finglas, Galway and Limerick. Work is underway in restructuring the tender process for the next phase of Garda CCTV schemes in Athlone, Clondalkin, Tallaght and Waterford.
The value of Garda CCTV systems is principally as an aid to existing Garda resources. CCTV systems must, therefore, be viewed in the context of overall policing operations and carefully planned and integrated into Garda operational procedures. They are not, nor are they intended to be, a replacement for gardaí on patrol. The Garda Síochána is strongly of the view that CCTV has a significant role to play in detecting crime and that it is also an important factor in crime prevention, through the fear of being caught on camera. The siting and visibility of CCTV cameras can act as an overt deterrent to criminals. The systems have also been of proven assistance to gardaí in the identification of suspects, in facilitating a more efficient use of Garda resources and the better management of incidents. Anecdotally, experience both here and in other jurisdictions with CCTV as a crime prevention and detection aid has been very positive.
To date, the Irish experience is that CCTV systems have been greatly welcomed by local communities in that they help to create a safer environment in which people can go about their daily business in the knowledge that persons are less likely to commit offences in the presence of the cameras. There is still a huge demand from communities all around the country for CCTV. The Garda research unit carried out an internal evaluation of CCTV systems in Dublin and Tralee in 1999. While the evaluation identified potential benefits of CCTV, such as reduced crime and disorder, increased detections, improved public feelings of safety, more effective deployment of police resources and improved court processing — guilty pleas — the evidence was not conclusive. This was mainly due to methodological difficulties such as data limitations and difficulty in isolating CCTV effects from other influences.
The Garda research unit is currently evaluating CCTV in three locations — Dundalk, Dún Laoghaire and Galway-Salthill. The main focus of the evaluation is on crime and detection levels before and after camera installation. Crime and detection levels are also being examined in two control areas — Drogheda and Blackrock — to assess general trends and possible crime displacement. The CCTV systems were installed in Dundalk and Dún Laoghaire at the end of 2003 and early 2004. Research findings will not be available for some time, since the evaluation involves comparison of data for 12 month periods before and after camera installation.
The Garda annual policing plan 2003 provided for an assessment of the proactive use of CCTV systems as a means of gathering criminal intelligence. The Garda annual policing plan 2004 has also committed the research unit to carrying out a review of the cost and benefit of extending the CCTV system to all urban areas with over 7,000 people. Both projects are expected to be completed later this year.
