CCTV cameras 'have been removed or had memory cards removed'

Some CCTV cameras erected in controversial areas in Westmeath in the past have either been removed or had their memory cards taken out, senior county council official Declan Leonard has told members of the Westmeath Joint Policing Committee (JPC).

But, he agreed, the council could look at temporarily installing CCTV at a Mullingar housing estate where there was, Cllr Andrew Duncan complained, a small area in which problems are occurring.

“There is an ongoing issue with one or two families and where disorderly conduct is a continuous event,” he said.

“Neighbours are afraid to go to the gardaí and it wouldn’t be in their nature to do so,” he said.

However, he continued, there are young children unable to sleep there due to the ongoing conduct issue.

Cllr Duncan said there is a telegraph pole there on ground owned by the council, and it would be “an ideal site” for CCTV.

Cllr Frank McDermott, who was chairing the meeting, asked if the council has made any progress towards approval of a CCTV services provider, to which Mr Leonard replied that there is an operator but the council has still to decide where to install cameras, and whether they could be installed just for short periods at a time.

However, he explained, a concern was that of the memory cards being removed - or even the cameras themselves, as has happened in the past.