This article is from page 8 of the 2011-04-26 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 8 JPG
A MAJOR tool in cracking down on anti-social behaviour in the Cloughleigh area of Ennis is to be rolled out within weeks.
Gardaí are currently in the process of linking up the main Ennis town CCTV system with the existing system covering Cloughleigh. Up until now, the systems were not linked up, but a decision was taken by gardaí, in conjunction with Ennis Town Council, to change this.
According to gardaí, this essentially doubles the potential success of the invaluable CCTV system.
In 2009, a new state-of-the-art CCTV system was installed at Ennis Garda Station.
A bank of 19 television screens located at a control centre at Ennis Garda Station relays images from 17 cameras locate around the town centre.
The images from those cameras are very clear and the system has played a key role in solving incidents of crime in and around the town centre.
CCTV has played an instrumental role in the investigation of serious incidents, particularly involving as- saults, public order and thefts in the town centre.
The sharp images generated by the CCTV system has also been credited for a reduction in rates of shoplifting in the town.
However, the system operating in Cloughleigh was a separate scheme and up until now, has not been linked to this scheme.
Ennis Superintendent Peter Duff told The Clare People that this new resource will be invaluable in garda investigations in the town.
“We are in the process of integrating the Cloughleigh communitybases CCTV system into the (garda) station.
“Ennis Town Council has 19 cameras in Cloughleigh and it is being integrated into the garda station so that gardaí can access it and view it from the station,” said Superintendent Duff.
“Work has commenced on feeding the system into the garda station. It’s going to mean increased coverage,” he said.
“The separate systems will be connected. It more or less doubles our system. It may help to curb anti-social behaviour and criminal activity,” said Supt Duff.