Ratepayers 'footing the bill' for CCTV due to lack of external funding

DERRY City Strabane District Council say ratepayers are having to “foot the bill” for CCTV in the district due to a lack of external funding.

Until the 2024/25 financial year council received funding from the Executive Office (TEO), the PSNI, the Department of Justice (DoJ), the Northern Ireland Policing Board (NIPB) and the Public Health Agency (PHA).

However, during a deputation to February’s Health and Community Committee members were told that the PSNI, DoJ and NIPB have confirmed that funding is not available for 2026/2027 and beyond, and while PHA has provided funding in the last two years there is no guarantee that this will continue.

Council’s strategic director, Barry O’Hagan, said the estimated funding for 2026/27 is £276,021, with council contributing £193,896 and the remaining £82,125 balance from TEO.

“The current CCTV system comprises 127 cameras, which are monitored 24/7 as part of the current contract,” he added.

“This also includes the integration and upgrade of the Ebrington public realm site, city centre, interface, Peace Bridge, Foyle Bridge, the Quay front and Strabane town.”

Mr O’Hagan also noted that a total of 1,259 PSNI requests for CCTV footage were made last year.

Chief Superintendent Gillian Kearney said the PSNI “recognises the value” of CCTV, but it was “impossible to ignore the challenges we have faced” due to budgetary pressures.

She added: “Difficult decisions have had to be taken to preserve our core function, our focus (is) on growing numbers.

"We’ve had to look across all budget lines to achieve this, and difficult decisions have had to be made, one of those being our ability to continue to contribute larger sums of money towards funding city centre CCTV in Derry City and Strabane.

“CCTV is absolutely an important policy consideration for the NI Executive, but it is not a core function of policing to provide this funding.”

Sinn Féin councillor, Sandra Duffy, said CCTV is a “tool that has been welcomed” in efforts to end violence against women and girls, and argued that council needs a sustainable, external funding model.

She put forward a successful motion, asking that PSNI Assistant Chief Constable, Ryan Henderson, be invited to speak to council.

Members also agreed to write to Justice Minster, Naomi Long, about the lack of funding.

SDLP councillor, Catherine McDaid, also noted that CCTV was a “key piece of infrastructure” in tackling violence against women and girls, and questioned why CCTV was chosen to be defunded.

Sinn Féin councillor, Paul Boggs, added: “I understand the challenges facing the PSNI, the DoJ. I also understand the challenges facing this council, but yet again we’re left to foot the bill.

“I don’t think we would allow organisations away with not contributing to something they have used for so long, it is simply not good enough.

“We talk about ending violence against women and girls; a whole raft of issues that are helped by CCTV.

“When there aren’t enough officers on the street, CCTV has a hugely important role to play in the access of justice for those victims.

“So the message is we don’t have enough money to fund something, to get someone the justice they need.

“Minister Long is very clear about her commitment to access to justice, but can’t find a small pot of money, across our council areas, to ensure access is aided.

“If it wasn’t so serious, it would be laughable for the Department to come out with such comments.”

The SDLP's Brian Tierney said council has been “scrambling” for CCTV funding for over a decade, and agreed that a “sustainable, long-term solution” was needed.

“At the minute it is the ratepayer that’s sustaining it,” he said. “And that should not be allowed to continue.

“PSNI requests for access to CCTV in 2025 – 1,259, that’s on average 25 a week.

“What would the PSNI do if this council took the same approach and said we can’t fund it?

“Because it’s ratepayers who are carrying the can, helping to fund a major tool that you use.

“You have walked away as an organisation, but request access to it 25 times a week.

“I don’t think it’s acceptable, so my question is what would the PSNI do if we took the same approach and said we can’t fund it?”