Sales drop blamed on CCTV cameras in public places

Several businesses in various localities where local councils have installed CCTV cameras are complaining of a drop in custom.

"Tickets are issued even if one parks a car and goes to pick up a newspaper. If the car obstructs the flow of traffic I can understand it but cameras are used to raise money for the councils and deterring our customers in the process," one shop owner said.

Such complaints are in no way isolated and representations have been made with Parliamentary Secretary Edwin Vassallo, who wrote to local councils about the matter.

Contacted yesterday, Mr Vassallo confirmed he had received a lot of complaints and last month he sent a letter to all local councils about the matter.

"The introduction of wardens, organised parking spaces and speed cameras are a good thing. But one does not need to go overboard.

"I have asked local councils that have not yet installed such CCTV cameras as well as those that have them to consider the impact they are going to have or were already having on consumers and businesses.

"In the end, if shops in our town and village centres do not have enough clients and close down, customers suffer too.

"And councils are not there to raise money or to stifle business but to be of service to the people," Mr Vassallo said.