Blackrock waits for CCTV news
The Blackrock Community-based CCTV Steering Group is still awaiting word from the Department of Justice, Equality & Law Reform on the re-opening of the scheme which will allow Blackrock to apply for the final phase of funding to provide a public CCTV system covering the Main Street area.
The group is comprised of representatives from the entire community including Councilors Donal Lynch and Jim D'Arcy, Sergeant Ted Jones and Joe McGuinness from Louth County Council.
The residents of the main street are also represented by Betty Hamilton and representing local businesses is Brian McQuillan from McQuillans pharmacy.
The Group received initial funding in 2007 to carry out a feasibility study and to engage in public consultation on the proposed project. This has all been completed, together with documented support from Main Street residents and businesses, sporting and social organisations and residents associations.
It has been estimated that a total of €114,000 will be required to complete the project, up to 70% of which will be provided by the Department of Justice should the project receive their backing. To make up the shortfall, pledges of financial support have already been received from Louth County Council to the tune of 15% and the remaining 15% has been pledged by the Main Street businesses.
In support of their application the group has documented hard evidence of the need for a public CCTV system in Blackrock. With anti-social behaviour on the rise in every town and village around the country, Blackrock has been no exception. This last year saw a particularly vicious attack on a local man on the Main Street by a gang of youths who were believed to have been from outside the village. The steering group believes that the presence of a CCTV system would not only serve to discourage antisocial behaviour in the village but it would also assist the garda in bringing charges against the perpetrators.
In the interest of public privacy the recordings will only be available to law enforcement agencies such as the garda, litter wardens and dog wardens who it is expected will use the data for the detection of both criminal and anti-social behaviour.
To ensure full coverage the group propose to position four cameras at different vantage points around the village, one camera would be positioned towards the end of the main street near the Credit Union, one would be placed mid way along the main street near the sun dial, one would be erected near the Amusements with a view of the upper car park and the final camera would be positioned at the entrance of the lower car park.
The Steering Group had anticipated the re-opening of the scheme before summer, but now understand that the Department may await the establishment of the new Joint Policing Committees before making further funding available for Community-based CCTV.
"We expect that it will be some months yet before the situation is clarified" explained a Steering Group spokesperson. "The process is taking longer than we expected, but we are ready to submit our detailed application as soon as the Department reopens the scheme. Once our application is submitted we will then have to wait to see whether it will be successful in securing the necessary grant to complete the project".
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Sunday 05 February 2012
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