MINISTER FOR Justice Dermot Ahern has said a Garda CCTV system in Ballymun, north Dublin, will help reduce and solve crime rather than push illegal activity into areas not covered by the new cameras.
Speaking at the launch yesterday of the newest section of Ballymun’s system, Mr Ahern said recent Department of Justice research had not revealed any increase in crime in areas just outside urban zones covered by the systems.
“It does help to solve crime and does make places safer. Obviously there’s still crime on the outlying areas that aren’t covered but you’re never going to cover the entire country with cameras.”
He was hopeful the new system in Ballymun, which forms part of the regeneration of the suburb, would help deter and detect street drug dealing, public disorder and crimes against the person.
While concerns had been raised by some commentators that the systems were an invasion of privacy for law-abiding members of the public, CCTV schemes had now been rolled out in many places across the State with little or no complaint. Assistant Commissioner Mick Feehan, who is in charge of policing in the Dublin area, said the new system, which adds 48 cameras to the existing 34, would make Ballymun a safer place to work and live in.
It was imperative local communities felt safe going about their lives because they were the biggest ally the force had in helping to prevent and solve crime.
Under the new system in Ballymun, local gardaí will be in a position to monitor screens linked up to 82 cameras located around the community. All of the cameras can move 360 degrees and can be remotely controlled from a Garda-manned monitoring room close to Ballymun Garda station.
The latest phase of the scheme was funded with two €500,000 grants, from the Department of Justice and the Department of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs.
Yesterday’s launch of the new system coincided with Safer Ballymun Week, a programme of events involving local residents and gardaí, the Ballymun Regeneration Agency and Dublin City Council.
