Omagh town centre CCTV requires major upgrade

A CONSULTATION on the future provision of CCTV in Omagh town centre is expected to start early next year. 

 

Fermanagh and Omagh District Council has commissioned the report costing £6000, which will be part-funded by the PSNI.

 

A recent council meeting was told that the District Commander of the PSNI had submitted a funding bid in order to help pay their part of the consultation, which will also cover Enniskillen.

 

It follows a previous report examining the technical infrastructure of CCTV in both Omagh and Enniskillen and concluded that critical elements of the hardware were at the ‘end of their product life cycle.’

 

The issue was discussed at the meeting of the council’s regeneration and community committee last week.

 

Councillors were told by the director of community health and leisure, John Boyle, that a ‘critical point’ had now been reached where significant investment is needed to meet the standards required for CCTV in public areas.

 

The increased use of mobile camera phones, body cameras and mobile phone footage to record activities in towns and rural areas is seen as a factor in how CCTV is provided in the future.

 

Omagh DUP councillor, Errol Thompson, said, given the importance of CCTV for local residents and businesses, the highest specification equipment would be required.

 

Sinn Féin’s Stephen McCann said it was vital that the PSNI also contributed financially to the consultation, whch is due to commence in mid-January, 2021.