Use CCTV to tackle illegal dumping in Kildare

CCTV systems should be deployed to address illegal dumping in County Kildare.

Independent councillor Pat Balfe wants more stringent enforcement measures to be sanctioned by Kildare County Council.

He believes CCTV surveillance should be expanded “at known blackspots,.”

He also wants more resources to be given to the community warden service and has called for the introduction of targeted public awareness campaigns.

The councillor is also asking the council to provide a report to the councillors within three months “outlining enforcement actions taken, fines issued and priority areas for intervention.”

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Up to recently there were concerns within KCC that the use of CCTV to tackle illegal dumping may be compromised by General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR). CCTV has been used to monitor and enforce instances of littering and illegal dumping, including at known litter blackspots and some bottle bank locations. 

However there was apprehension that GDPR meant the processing of data through CCTV poses a risk to the rights and freedoms of individuals and a local authority must have a legal basis for  processing personal data through the use of CCTV. 

Councillors were previously told by KCC official Ken Kavanagh that GDPR significantly increased the obligations and responsibilities for organisations and businesses in how they collect, use and protect personal data. 

CCTV can only be deployed if “it can be shown that less intrusive reasonable steps have been taken to deter pollution without any positive impact.”