Mobile CCTV in Castlebar?

TRIAL RUN Castlebar Town Council may test new mobile CCTV cameras.

Option for council to use mobile CCTV units in problem areas

Michael Duffy

AREAS not covered under the new Castlebar Garda CCTV system, which is due to be operational early in the New Year, may be covered by a mobile unit, which is available to the local town council on request. 
Mr Neil Sutton of Visiconnex CCTV systems travelled all the way from New Ross in Wexford last Thursday night to make a presentation to Castlebar’s town councillors and after a detailed discussion, he informed councillors that the hi-tech equipment could be leased out to the Council on trial basis to see how it works.
Mr Sutton told the meeting that his company took part in two types of CCTV monitoring and they could tailor the package to suit different situations.
“We are basically entering the next generation of monitoring. Every camera we supply is fully controllable and can zoom in and identify people or objects. The system we have been using in conjunction with New Ross Town Council has been working very well. In particular it has solved problems at a halting site in the town where caravans were being moved in and out of the site without the Council’s permission. The wire at the boundary fence was constantly being cut but now, because the fence is been monitored, it has stopped. We can also do covert cameras, for example, on bottle banks where we have been successful in stopping dumping,” said Mr Sutton.
Castlebar’s Superintendent Ray Brennan also attended the meeting, stating that if the technical specifications of the Visiconnex equipment could work in tandem with the new Garda equipment, there was no reason to stop the Council from using it if they wanted to.
“I have always been in favour of CCTV, it has assisted the Gardaí in the past and will do again in the future. It can be used as a means of prevention as well as detection,” said Supt Brennan.
Town mayor, Cllr Eugene McCormack said he was also very impressed with the presentation and there was no doubt that a mobile unit would be a big help to the Council.
“I see no reason, after the Gardaí have their new state-of-the-art system up and running, why we cannot assess where we need extra monitoring to take place. Knockthomas is one place where the presence of CCTV may address some of the problems.”
Cllr Blackie Gavin said Visiconnex looked to be able to install excellent equipment and in the end any investment would probably save them money.
“Not long ago, ten gas lamps were vandalised in the this town and it took €600 to bring in new heads, all the way from England, to fix one light. That’s €6,000 this Council would have been saved if CCTV was in that area and the criminal who did that damage knew he would be caught. We have to look at using a mobile unit in trouble areas which are outside of the new Garda system. It’s the way forward,” added Cllr Gavin.