Police and politicians in talks over cost of new CCTV systems

Police and politicians in talks over cost of new CCTV systems

2 October 2024

TALKS are taking place between the PSNI and Newry, Mourne and Down Council about sharing the cost of a new digital CCTV system in Downpatrick, Newcastle and Ballynahinch.

Security camera systems in Kilkeel, Warrenpoint and Newry have already been upgraded.

The local authority is working closely with police as the out-dated analogue systems need to be upgraded as the technology they rely on is being phased out and will no longer be available by the end of next year.

Communication lines between the security cameras and the control centres which monitors them are also being upgraded which will greatly assist officers in the fight against town centre crime.

The local authority is responsible for this aspect of the upgrade with the PSNI in charge of replacing the cameras as part of the joint investment initiative.

An update on the progress being made was outlined at last week’s meeting of the council’s Sustainability and Environment Committee.

Plans to upgrade CCTV cameras in the district’s three main towns were first outlined over a decade ago, with progress finally being made on installing a modern system using the latest technology.

The cameras will provide clearer images which will greatly assist police.

Downpatrick Alliance councillor Cadogan Enright, has welcomed news that modern CCTV systems are to be installed after what he described as a “long and frustrating delay” in moving from the old analogue system to digital technology.

“There has been an impasse over which part of the PSNI would monitor CCTV cameras in East Down between monitoring bases in Armagh and Lisburn,” he explained.

“This never should never have happened. Modern digital cameras have been installed at the Newry end of the council for some considerable time.”

Cllr Enright said the replacement cameras will be a fraction of the cost of the old analogue cameras, far easier to use and provide enhanced images, even at night where the current analogue cameras “are virtually useless.”

He added: “Over the years, we have been in situations where anti-social behaviour was occurring beside the cameras in our areas but were told by the PSNI that the images were too poor to support a prosecution. Hopefully this will soon be a thing of the past.

Fellow Downpatrick councillor Philip Campbell said the planned discussion with the PSNI around upgrading the CCTV systems will “significantly enhance the quality of coverage”.

He said the investment will help boost security to ensure clearer images and improved monitoring in the area, making it safer for residents and businesses.

Cllr Campbell added: “This upgrade will further improve public safety efforts in Downpatrick. I look forward to seeing this progress as it is long overdue for the town.”

 Rowallane councillor Jonny Jackson has also welcomed progress to modernise the CCTV systems in Downpatrick, Ballynahinch and Newcastle.

He has been lobbying for the upgrade and praised the efforts of the working group which was set up to progress enhanced security camera coverage.

“Cameras have been upgraded in other parts of the district and I look forward to this happening locally. Enhanced images will be a welcome boost for police investigating town centre crime,” Cllr Jackson continued.

“I’m particularly pleased there are plans to upgrade the CCTV system in Ballynahinch and proposals to centralise the monitoring system for all the district’s cameras.”

Cllr Jackson said it is important that the district has an ultra-modern CCTV system and that while it has had to wait some time for this to happen, it is edging ever closer.