‘Desperate need’ to upgrade CCTV cameras

‘Desperate need’ to upgrade CCTV cameras

31 January 2024

AGEING security cameras in the district’s three main towns need to be upgraded to help combat increasing anti-social behaviour, it has been claimed.

The call for the switch from analogue to digital cameras – which record pin sharp images – has been issued by Alliance councillors Jill Truesdale, Tierna Kelly and Cadogan Enright.

They want cameras in Newcastle, Downpatrick and Ballynahinch upgraded and insist the cash to fund the work must be made available as CCTV cameras in Kilkeel, Warrenpoint and Newry have already been modernised.

Work to upgrade cameras in the southern end of the constituency was funded by the PSNI with the move sanctioned at a meeting of Newry, Mourne and Down Council’s Sustainability and Environment Committee last August.

The cameras in Newcastle, Downpatrick and Ballynahinch were not upgraded with the local councillors asking for the costs involved to allow this to happen.

Cllr Truesdale, who represents the Mournes area and is a member of the district’s Policing and Community Safety Partnership’s anti-social committee, said she was made aware of the sale of vapes and other substances to school children behind Downpatrick bus station. 

Her investigations subsequently discovered that the town’s CCTV system does not cover this particular area and that the system’s images are not good enough in any case to lead to a successful police prosecution. 

She then discovered there is a similar issue at Donard Park in her home town of Newcastle.

“After meeting with local council officials I became aware that the same issue persists in Donard Park where residents have complained about multiple incidents of anti-social behaviour,” Cllr Truesdale confirmed.

“We need upgrades to our CCTV systems in order to deter this kind of behaviour.”

Cllr Kelly, who represents the Rowallane area, says upgrades to town centre CCTV systems are desperately needed.

“Many of our cameras are outdated and often do not help the police in their investigations,” she continued.

“In Ballynahinch there have been multiple reports of anti-social behaviour and the security alert in the town last Friday further adds to residents concerns about the CCTV issue.”

She confirmed council officials have been asked to determine the cost of switching from analogue to digital in Newcastle, Downpatrick and Ballynahinch has soon as possible.

Cllr Enright said the district is required to upgrade its CCTV systems to a digital platform by next year.

“As the PSNI has the budget to upgrade town centres in the southern end of the district, the council should look to upgrade cameras in Ballynahinch, Downpatrick and Newcastle,” he said.

“This will ensure CCTV systems across the district all operate at the same high standard and will help deter anti-social behaviour.”