Frustration in Laois over Community CCTV delays
Community CCTV Schemes in Laois face more delays due to a new requirement from the Department of Justice.
The issue was raised at a recent Joint Policing Committee meeting when the council was responding to questions from the public.
A question from Portarlington’s Community CCTV Committee who outlined the frustration being experienced by groups.
“What can be done to speed up CCTV delivery to towns and villages? In particular,
delays with DPIAs being carried out. Can they be streamlined and priority be given
larger areas of population. The Committee in Portarlington are frustrated at the delays
having worked for two years to get the application in,” they asked.
Laois Senior Acting Executive Officer Pamela Tynan read a response from the council. She explained that in 2022 Laois County Council and An Garda Siochana had agreed to be joint data controllers for community CCTV schemes.
She said that in recent months the Department of Justice had changed the requirements and now need a Data Protection Impact Assessment(DPIA) to be prepared in advance of approval of a scheme. She said the council is going to tender early in 2023 to engage the services of a provider to supply DPIAs. She said a template DPIA has been created which will help to streamline the process.
Portarlington CCTV Committee member Paul Mitchell said Portarlington, as the second biggest town in the county, badly needs CCTV. He explained that the committee have been working very hard towards setting up the scheme but progress has stalled because of DPIA requirements.
“It just needs to be done by the County Council. Really it is just a matter of the resources being put in,” Mr Mitchell argued.
“We want to help to try and stop crime in Port and improve security and the guards want it as well, we all want it. So why should we stall over one thing?” he asked.
He suggested someone from the council should go and meet with the committee.