'It's horrible what people have to clean up in a Kildare playground'
There is pressure for CCTV to be deployed to tackle anti social behaviour
Anti social behaviour is becoming increasingly common at public playgrounds operated around Kildare.
And the county council is coming under pressure to install CCTV systems to tackle those responsible - older people who typically gather at these locations in the evenings and at night.
“It’s horrible what people have to clean up in a playground near where I live,” said Sallins councillor Carmel Kelly, who added that parents are asking for cameras to be provided.
The incidents are becoming more and more serious, said Cllr Tracey O’Dwyer, who spoke of the arrest of two young teenagers following an alleged incident relating to the possession of a knife at another playground.
“Anything that safeguards children is welcome, “ said Cllr O'Dwyer at a KCC meeting.
Cllr Bill Clear said the playground in Monread, Naas, “is being destroyed” and he said CCTV would help provide evidence against the perpetrators, adding systems are in place at many sports venues “so why not here” and Cllr Brian Dooley said equipment costing thousands of euro si being damaged.
Cllr Peggy O’Dwyer said many parents are asking for surveillance and said that those “who don’t want to be on camera need not come.”
Cllr Fintan Brett said a reluctance to approve CCTV because of GDPR concerns means that "public safety is losing out.”
Cllr Veralouise Behan said: “If your house is near a playground, look out because you’re going to have trouble afterwards.” She added that some people may be opposed to cameras but “we have to have them."
According to KCC, while the importance of ensuring that playgrounds and recreation amenities are safe and well managed, “CCTV or live camera surveillance in playgrounds raises significant data-protection and privacy considerations, particularly as such locations are primarily used by young children and families.”
It added footage containing identifiable individuals is personal data and must be processed in accordance with GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018 and “any proposal to install CCTV must have a clearly defined purpose, lawful basis, and evidence- based rationale and must be necessary and proportionate.”
Official guidance demands “consideration of purpose, lawfulness, necessity, proportionality, security, retention and transparency before CCTV is installed.”
KCC’s own assessment is “proposals involving children’s playgrounds require particular consideration, including whether vulnerable individuals are likely to be recorded and how footage would be used.”