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local
news
CCTV fuels privacy/security debate
By Nadine
Brincat
Opinions are divided as to whether a close circuit television project
newly set up in Gzira is a safety bonus for passers-by or an invasion
of personal privacy.
The debate was triggered when, earlier last month, Securital Limited,
a security services company, in conjunction with the Gzira Local
Council pioneered a pilot project in CCTV in a public area.
The project was launched on 7 March, when Gzira Mayor, Dr Ian Micallef,
announced that the local council had chosen to provide this service
to safeguard its staff and property.
The two sites chosen by the local council are the new administrative
offices in Rue D'Argens and Meme Scicluna Square, the site of the
local health centre, where the council claims vandalism is rife.
Both Dr Micallef and Reuben Sciberras, Securital Manager, explained
that the project is set to monitor the square, as a deterrent to
crime. Securital's sister company operates the local warden service
in 50
localities.
Although some residents welcome the move, the pilot project has,
however, raised a few eyebrows, due to the security-privacy debate.
Mr Sciberras told MaltaToday that the company has entered into a
confidential agreement with the local council, meaning it was impossible
to divulge certain information, although he was able to say that
the project's overriding objective was to deter crime.
"The monitoring of a public space is a complex issue, but the
cameras are mounted permanently and are visible to the public,"
he said. "It is a pilot project, running technical and security
tests, to gauge the reliability and the efficiency of the project,
which will soon end its trial period."
He stressed that should the security company come across any irregularities,
they are to report them to the police as well as the council.
Asked how he reacted to the argument that the project could be an
invasion of privacy, the Gzira mayor, who, together with the councillors,
chose the site, told MaltaToday that the area was popular with vandals,
who destroy lamp posts, benches and other street furniture.
"The area is a public place and the cameras are being used
as a deterrent to crime," he said. "So the project is
really about taking care of the locality. In fact, you can think
of the cameras as an alternative form of security."
Dr Micallef said that the parameters of the health centre are not
screened or recorded, and that people who make use of the health
care facilities cannot be identified.
He also said that the project will also be used in the administrative
offices as a precaution devolved to the local councils.
"Local Councils have responsibilities such as driving licences,
wardens, collecting government rent, etc," he said. "Here
we are just investing in safety."
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