More CCTV cameras needed to keep streets of north Mayo town safe claim councillors

Councillors in north Mayo have called for more CCTV cameras to be installed in Ballina to 'keep the streets safe'.

Ballina currently has 40 CCTV cameras located around the town which are operated by Mayo County Council but some councillors feel that there are not enough.

Fianna Fáil councillor Annie May Reape brought a motion to the January meeting of the Ballina Municipal District calling for the installation of a fully functioning CCTV system covering all areas of the town.

Cllr Reape said she has received a lot of complaints that the current system is not working satisfactorily and does not cover all areas and suggested using a new monitoring system operated by a Tourmakeady-based company which was recently set up in Killala.

“CCTV in the town is not working satisfactorily with lots of complaints in the Market Square area and other places in the town,” said Cllr Reape.

“The new system is now in Killala, Swinford and Claremorris with a combination of businesses coming together to work with the guards and work with this firm which has a HQ in Tourmakeady.

“I request that we bring them in here and go through the system they have. I heard fantastic results from it and I think it will work very well in Ballina. I propose we work with this company with the new Superintendent and the gardaí. It is what we need in Ballina to keep the streets safe,” she said.

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Her motion was seconded by Killala-based councillor Jarlath Munnelly who explained that Killala now operates a shared CCTV system operated by the company and it 'takes burden of data management off a voluntary committee'.

“I can set up a meeting and how it might work in Ballina and bring in people to make a presentation,” he said.

The need for extra CCTV in Ballina was supported by other councillors who also suggested that the system could be rolled out in smaller villages.

Cllr Michael Loftus said the system 'ticked all the boxes' in terms of GDPR but felt that it should not be a substitute for gardaí on the ground.

“We still need guards on the ground and we need to be fighting for more gardaí into Mayo,” he said.

Declan Turnbull, Head of the Ballina Municipal District commented that extra CCTV cameras will be welcome but reminded councillors that there are 40 functioning cameras in Ballina and the council don't have any money to add extra to it.

“There are 40 and Gardaí are in here [council building] regularly looking at the coverage and we do have a lot of coverage in the town. Obviously we could spread it to other areas or use it alongside the current system but the message needs to go out that we have a functioning CCTV system in the town. We welcome more in Ballina or other towns and villages,” he said.