Cork Views: CCTV can play a big part in making our city safe

Two hundred and thirty-four days. That was the time between receiving a response about CCTV provision around the Blackrock Line Greenway and last week’s full meeting of Cork City Council, where I again asked the Chief Executive to expedite CCTV provision at Loughmahon Park and its surrounds.

The response? In essence, we cannot proceed because of legislation and uncertainty. GDPR continues to be cited as an obstacle to installing cameras that could act as a deterrent and help prosecute offenders.

I do not believe CCTV is a silver bullet for crime or anti-social behaviour. However, it has a role to play, and residents in Mahon and Blackrock have been seeking it for years, met with an endless stream of excuses. Meanwhile, similar concerns elsewhere are not going away.

Another application sitting on a desk in an office in the Phoenix Park may be met with another standard delay response. But for the people seeking action, this is a very real issue. An issue causing fear in their homes.

In recent weeks, we have seen an increase in criminal behaviour. I say this with frustration because our area has a wonderful community, with schools, sports clubs and social amenities working hard to give young people positive outlets. An amenities audit is also underway locally to identify any gaps.

But even if gaps exist, is that an excuse for setting fires or other antisocial behaviour? Of course not.

Those who defend GDPR as a safeguard against the creation of a police state are missing the point. Protecting privacy and protecting communities are not mutually exclusive.

Across Cork and Ireland, residents are fed up with vandalism, anti-social behaviour, and the perception that offenders cannot be pursued because of data protection concerns.

When playgrounds are damaged, public spaces vandalised and rubbish dumped illegally, local communities pay the price. Families lose out, volunteers see their hard work undone, and taxpayers are left footing the bill. Residents have every right to ask: why is it so difficult to get CCTV schemes up and running?

I have raised this issue for several years, including the need for cameras at Loughmahon Park and along the Blackrock Line Greenway. These are public amenities that people should be able to enjoy without worrying about vandalism or anti-social behaviour. This is not just a Cork problem; the Government must treat it as a national issue. We need to get past the GDPR excuses It should never be treated as a blanket ban on CCTV or a reason to leave communities waiting indefinitely.

The Data Protection Commission has published guidance confirming that properly authorised community CCTV schemes can operate within data protection law. Rules must be followed, but should provide a clear route forward rather than being a barrier to action.

The Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Act 2023 provides a statutory framework for public CCTV. Yet questions remain about the approvals, processes and guidance required to progress schemes. Questions were also raised in the Council Chamber last week on whether there is sufficient drive at senior garda level nationally to move these schemes forward.

In February, Cork City Council confirmed, following my motion, that progress on CCTV along the Blackrock Line Greenway depended on the relevant Garda code of practice. Seven months later, the needle has not moved.

Residents deserve to know what happens next, who is responsible, and when they can expect progress. If a scheme meets the legal requirements, there should be a straightforward process for advancing it. If something is holding it up, the authorities must explain what needs to happen to resolve the issue.

People deserve to feel safe. CCTV is not a magic solution, nor can it replace gardaí on the beat or effective enforcement. However, cameras operated by public bodies can deter vandalism, help identify offenders and provide evidence when incidents occur. Where appropriate, access to footage can also help gardaí respond without unnecessary delays.

If a Cork suburb were located in Dublin, it would likely meet the criteria for a 24-hour Garda station. Yet the capital continues to receive priority when new recruits are allocated. While Cork benefited from a high-visibility policing initiative in the city centre last year, that resource is now under pressure. Residents in the suburbs remain concerned about the lack of significant garda allocations in recent years, while community gardaí are stretched across competing demands.

Every euro spent repairing damaged public property is money that could have been invested in improving our communities in the first place. Residents are entitled to expect better. I want the Government, An Garda Síochána and local authorities to work together to remove unnecessary obstacles and establish a clear, workable national process for CCTV schemes. Local authorities need guidance on requirements, assessment criteria and decision-making timelines.

Privacy safeguards must remain in place. Footage must be handled responsibly, access controlled and every scheme supported by a proper legal basis. But these safeguards should not prevent progress or leave communities feeling that those committing crimes are being shielded from accountability.

We all deserve better.

My parliamentary colleague, Senator Laura Harmon, is examining animal welfare laws and the changes and investment needed to strengthen them. However, when criminal and thuggish behaviour continues despite the provision of amenities, education and youth diversion programmes, effective law enforcement must also play its part.

Residents should not have to accept damaged playgrounds, vandalised public spaces and illegal dumping as part of everyday life. Nor should they have to wait years for a practical response.

I will continue to push for CCTV where it is needed in Cork and call for a national approach that helps other communities facing the same problems.

People deserve better.