24/7 Legal Advice
Scotland is set to lose a large proportion of its CCTV coverage after plans to switch cameras off across the country have been revealed.
Two councils have already introduced plans to remove surveillance, including cameras that have been used in the past to help solve serious cases and track missing people.
Politicians are worried that this move will see more local authorities removing their own CCTV cameras, something they blame on increased cuts in budgets. Experts, including those in anti-terrorism, have called the plans “madness”, and point to examples of CCTV being used in the past to help track bombers.
The councils that are looking to remove the CCTV cameras are Midlothian and Inverclyde. The councils’ officials have both recommended that their full council CCTV systems should be switched off.
While there have been 19 other councils in Scotland that have refused to stop their CCTV system, seven have refused to rule it out in the future. Chris McEleny, who works as a councillor in Inverclyde, said, “the reality is when councils start seeing others getting away with something, they start thinking the same way.”
The CCTV systems in these Scottish councils are not the only ones that are set to disappear, with ScotRail looking to reduce the number of staff it has monitoring CCTV at train stations too. It says is looking to get rid of 22 staff at centres in both Dunfermline and Paisley.
Officials from Midlothian Council are suggesting they will stop the upkeep of their CCTV system, something that experts say will see the system “ultimately fail”. The plan to stop the maintenance of CCTV is part of cuts worth £13.5 million, and will see as many as 240 jobs threatened.
The leader of Midlothian Council, Labour’s Derek Milligan, said, “CCTV cameras have been immensely beneficial in keeping down crime in the areas they are in, particularly our town centres. Removing them will have a knock-on effect.”
CCTV is not the only thing the council is set to lose, with proposals to get rid of pest control, and all but one of its libraries in place.
Mr Milligan plans to meet with Derek Mackay, the SNP Finance Secretary, next month, to discuss cuts to his council’s funding.
Westminster City Council made the decision last year to switch off its entire CCTV camera network. Those who are campaigning for them to be switched back on again have criticised the decision, saying that some areas at night now resemble those of the TV show The Walking Dead.
David Vidicette, an anti-terrorism expert who helped to investigate the 7/7 bombings in London, praised CCTV cameras, and explained that they were used to help track the movements of terrorists who attacked Glasgow Airport in 2007.
If you require criminal defence for any reason, contact one of our well-respected criminal lawyers in Dunfermline on 01383 441 812, Kirkcaldy on 01592 550, 264, or Alloa on 01259 245 411, or complete our online enquiry form.
