CCTV network planned for Paceville

Jean Pierre Aquilina

Jul 23rd 2008, 08:05

For those who are concerned about the invasion of their privacy, note that 'Big Brother' has more information about yourselves than any CCTV will capture such as: income, value of assets, address, telephone number, family tree, political preference, well the list goes on. The Data Protection Act safeguards one's privacy, but also strikes a balance between privacy and, inter alia, security and societal needs. CCTV is operated within this privacy framework.

Furthermore, CCTV is priceless when it comes to investigation of crimes and unacceptable behaviour, such as the alleged beatings of two migrants by the police a couple of weeks back. Not only does the system monitor but it has a perfect and unbiased memory too.

Let us hope that the system will be used to serve its intended purpose - safety and security.

Ramon Casha

Jul 23rd 2008, 06:57

Security is important but this need not come at the expense of privacy. CCTV systems like this have been introduced in other countries, and in most areas they encountered several problems before they were ironed out. We would do well to try to learn from others' mistakes, especially as these cameras may well start spreading to other areas, not all of which are commercial ones.

For example, if a camera is mounted high up, what will prevent them from being pointed at windows of private residences? That has happened elsewhere, where the operators were found to be pointing the cameras at bedroom windows. There are some attractive foreign language students living in the area.

Also, is it the tourism authority that will monitor them? Shouldn't it be the police?

I was also concerned at the report (not mentioned in this article) about using these cameras to identify incorrectly parked cars and issue citations. I hope this is not merely another ruse to get funding from parking tickets.

john fenech

Jul 22nd 2008, 19:04

There is nothing wrong to operate electronic surveillance in public places, where ever we venture, Hotels, car parks, bars, business complex etc all have the ever present warning CCTV surveillance 24*7.
What I don’t comprehend is why it is under the care of the MTA. Was this the way to get the blessings of the business establishments to accept the installation of the CCTV? After all security has little to do with tourist safety but it is to assist in crime prevention. If not so, are all the other Tourist locations without electronic surveillance less safe?
Any way is the regulation in place to safe guard against abuse, while viewing and collecting data. Will the video clips be accepted in court as evidence? Is the monitoring to be the responsibility of the police or a private agency?
By the way in case of difficulties one may always refer to the London Metropolitan Police! Reference ‘Security Document World Conference in London 2008’

Joe Grima

Jul 22nd 2008, 18:08

Surveillance cameras have their merits and their demirits so I will not go into the philisophy of having them or not. What I am concerned with is that it had to be the MTA to fork out the financing for the cameras. Is this not a respobsibility of the local council or of the police? The money at MTA"s disposal has other, much more important objectives for its usage. No wonder MTA are not always in a posiiton to finance serious projects that have been proven to benefit Malta's tourism image when they are expected to dish out such a capital expense which, in fact, should be shouldered by someone else. Don't tell me that MTA will now also be responsible for the running costs because I'll scream!

Insofar as the police and stealing are concerned I don't have the same experience. When my car was burgled and credit cards stolen, the police brought us pictures taken from surveillance cameras in the shops where the credit cards were used and asked us if we could identify the thief. We couldn't but the police did try, In this case their effort was commendable even if the thief was never caught.

godfrey Pace

Jul 22nd 2008, 16:19

Without going into detail, I think that surveillance shouild also cover the rocks in St Georges Bay !!! This is were the illecit action takes place.

Dunstan Crockford

Jul 22nd 2008, 16:14

What will they be used for? We have a CCTV below where I live,near Neptunes and the pity is that it only picks up some driver who double parks!!!! It cannot pick up the noise and din created by the bar`s patrons....and never ever did anyone enforce closing time!!! All this to the neighbours annoyance of course!!!
Hopefully these cameras will not replace the police!!!!! who seem to have forgotten areas outside Paceville!!!

joseph v. Grech

Jul 22nd 2008, 16:08

W
well done Dr. Mario Demarco. It is high time something like this initiative happened. However, as another commentator says: It will now be up to the authorities (including the Police) to follow up immediately on what the cameras report; otherwise this initiative will go the way many other initiatives unfortunately go! To quote an example: We now have the famous Building site Regulations. Well and good. Dr. Demarco, Hon. Prime Minister, please come up to Bugibba/Qawra to see for yourselves the immense damage the continuous, unchecked building activity is causing. Dust, noise from 7am...a veritable bedlam in some areas; Tourists actually staying in a block where heavy construction work is proceeding downstairs. Does the MTA care? All this activity happeneing at the height of the tourist season...unbelievable! Are we mad or what? More information can be passed on if the Hon. Parliamentary Secratary for Tourism requires.

R. Bartolo

Jul 22nd 2008, 16:04

"Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both."
Benjamin Franklin

Cassar. E.

Jul 22nd 2008, 15:41

David Brin's The Transparent Society :'They' observe us (and can integrate that observation with databases that have significant impacts on our lives). 'We' are observed but often aren't aware of being observed, have no choice in being observed and - more importantly - aren't in a position to watch the watchers or use our knowledge about their observation.

Gorg Borg

Jul 22nd 2008, 15:35

It's about time, However, in the UK CCTV cameras have an effect of moving the problem elsewhere. Pity the poor residents of Paceville who will not be covered by the cameras and have to put up with even more antisocial behaviour than ever before. The car park where i live is used as a drug den, sex den and toilet

louis grech

Jul 22nd 2008, 15:33

Welcome Big Brother!

Would it detect illegal development ? hehehehehe

Privacy.....a small price to pay...oh my god !!

J Farrugia

Jul 22nd 2008, 15:22

Dear Dr Demarco
unless you get the permission of HH Philip Fenech, President of the Cultural section of the GRTU, and unless you get the permission of the mighty GRTU, they will not let you take care of our children.

Joanne Micallef

Jul 22nd 2008, 15:14

I think it's about time we got CCTV cameras in Paceville, though one has to keep in mind that good as it may be, we will only reap the benefits if we have enough man power to address all the 'situations' this system will highlight to the authoirties.

Eric Gahn

Jul 22nd 2008, 14:58

Invasion of privacy 'a small price to pay'? Since when? Where should I call to start telling on my neighbour?

Cameras can have software that blots out specific regions when these are pointed at pre-programmed zones. This system IS used in the UK to blot out gardens and such where cameras are mounted on pylons in inhabited areas.

Amanda Mallia

Jul 22nd 2008, 14:29

Let us hope that the police will make use of the CCTV footage if necessary.

My mother's wallet was stolen by a pickpocket (working with an accomplice) at Arkadia foodstore in St Julian's last week. (It was recovered some 12 hours later - with the cash missing, of course - by a kind woman who then returned it to my mother.)

The security staff at Arkadia were extremely helpful in looking up CCTV footage, and succeeded in getting - and thus showing us - pretty good shots of the incident and of the perpetrators. Though the police were informed about such footage, until four days after the incident they had not yet approached Arkadia for a copy ofit. (Understandably, Arkadia would not supply us with it themselves.) Judging by the attitude and behaviour of the police on duty when we went to file the report, I doubt whether they will every request a copy of such CCTV footage from Arkadia.

Having the cameras installed is one thing; making good use of them is another.

hadrian agius

Jul 22nd 2008, 14:13

Finally!!!!! Maybe these famous 'students' who are ruining all st.julian's and paceville will be contolled once and for all!!

Marc Pisani

Jul 22nd 2008, 14:13

Finally! Excellent idea