Tipperary councillors call for CCTV schemes to be accelerated in the wake of Dublin riots

Councillor Noel Coonan has said the riots in Dublin last week “should be a wake up call to us all.”

Speaking at this week’s Tipperary County Council budget meeting, Cllr Coonan called for the CCTV budget to be accelerated.

“We need to make a decision to deliver or forget,” said Cllr Coonan.

Cllr Coonan said the ‘horrendous’ events in Dublin made CCTV in Tipperary an “urgent matter.”

He said CCTV in towns like Roscrea would be the equivalent of ten gardai on the streets.

He also said there are ‘tensions in communities across the county.”

Cllr Sean Ryan agreed with Cllr Coonan. He said: “It is essential. It is no longer a discretionary thing.”

He said aside from the events in Dublin, villages like Littleton are used as “arterial routes for crime.”

“If we can get it up and running, it would be a serious aid,” said Cllr Ryan.

Cllr David Dunne supported his colleague saying, CCTV will not solve everything but will help. However, he said he did not think it would stop riots like those in the capital.

He said videos circulating on social media last Thursday called for people to wear balaclavas.

“Unless it's very good CCTV it won’t catch that,” said Cllr Dunne.

NO REPLACEMENT

Director of Services for Economic, Community and Rural Development Brian Beck said policing is not the point of CCTV.

He said whatever system is in place is not monitored, and it is there for community service and will aid with court cases as needed.

He also pointed out that the Department of Justice was not paying for community CCTV.

“CCTV should be a last resort in terms of policing. We need boots on the ground,” said Mr Beck.

Mr Beck said that policy will go before the SPC in December, and elected members can review it before the end of the year.

He said once there is a policy in place, members will have a good idea of the capital and maintenance costs.