Over half of council cameras out of action

CARMARTHENSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL could conduct a review of its CCTV cameras after it was announced that Dyfed-Powys Police would be introducing 46 new cameras across the county.

A report noted that due to a lack of ‘proactive maintenance’ around 60% of the council’s 87 cameras were not working.

Live monitoring of CCC’s cameras ceased in 2015, after the Executive Board at the time unanimously voted to save a projected £104,000.

The cameras were still recording, allowing police to view footage, and an ‘informal agreement’ with saw Dyfed-Powys agree to fund the upkeep on the camera equipment on a case-by-case basis. However, a reduction in funding and a ‘change of direction’ since Dafydd Llywelyn was elected as police and crime commissioner in 2016 meant that this had ceased.

A report put before the council’s Executive Board on Monday (Jul 2) explained that the Dyfed Powys Police CCTV Project would see 116 new cameras installed across the force’s operating area, with 46 of these in Carmarthenshire.

19 cameras are to be installed in Llanelli, 17 in Carmarthen and 19 in Ammanford. Almost all of the new cameras will be placed at existing CCTV locations, with one new location in Ammanford, following ‘crime pattern analysis which demonstrates an operational requirement for a camera at that site’. The council was asked to agree to pay around £7,000 for electricity fees and costs for the new system.

However, 42 locations across the county currently covered by CCC’s system would not be covered by the new CCTV system. The report noted that of these 42 cameras, currently only 15 were operational, and at 20-years-old were dated compared to the new police cameras.

Of these cameras, CCC’s Leisure Services expressed an interest in keeping CCTV at Llanelli Leisure Centre and on the Millennium Coastal Path, while Parking Services requested that the cameras in Llanelli Multi-storey car park be retained.

Two options were put before the Executive Board – either to decommission the remaining 42 cameras, and place the responsibility of maintaining and operating CCTV at the site in the hands of the town council or council department which requested it, or to conduct a review of the 42 cameras, which would ascertain the cost of maintaining provision where it was required.

Speaking at Monday’s meeting, Cllr Cefin Campbell said that the preferred option of the Executive Board was to conduct a review which would include consultation with councillors and town councils.

Labour councillor Deryk Cundy said it was ‘hugely important’ to get CCTV cameras back. He asked that groups including Shelter be included in the consultation so they can make sure that ‘if we do have any rough sleepers they can make sure what is going on’.

Cllr Campbell noted that ‘given enough money we would pay for more CCTV cameras.

“We have to show faith in the police, that they have taken this crime pattern analysis, and know where the hotspots are,” he added.

He noted that there would be concerns regarding invasion of privacy, if cameras were used, instead of as a deterrent, for monitoring rough sleepers.

“There may be a debate about using cameras for monitoring rough sleepers – some might argue that crosses that boundary,” he added.

It was unanimously agreed to review the cameras.