A Model Exchange

From the Comments to Liz McManus Blog

[To preface my comments, I’m the Mayor of Letterkenny and have been blogging actively since June ‘05]

On my website, I try to include everything I can that is of relevance in the post. It’s vital; people don’t like following links.

I’d also consider it important to try to keep the information together. Most people who visit my website are looking for a specific issue (eg planning, housing, the Fleadh Cheoil) and are coming in through Google. It’s much better to include all the relevant information possible on the one post.

The blog has been a great resource, and I hope it will continue to be. It’s just a pity I don’t stand in James’ consituency of Limerick West!

By Damien Blake on 01.09.06 5:04 pm e

I had a look at Damien’s website there, and it is a very useful resource. I think it could serve very well as a model for other local representatives who were willing to find the information their voters wanted and put it in an easy to use format.

Damien, I notice that you announce that Letterkenny will be getting CCTV shortly. Do you know, or are you in a position to find out, whether this will be tied in to the mooted Garda Automatic Number Plate Recognition scheme? see my post here for more details.

By Simon on 01.10.06 9:42 am e

Simon,

This CCTV system is going to be a self-contained, stand alone system, run by the local authority (funded under the current “Community Based??? funding round).

The system will be run with Letterkenny Town Council as “Data Monitor???. We’ll be in charge of the operation and maintenance of the system, but more importantly the elected members will be in charge of all the policy surrounding the system. It is intended to be a system to help the Gardai, but all requests to access the system will have to be made in line with the policy we set out.

If the policy needs changed, the elected (publicily accountable) members will be able to change it. That’s not possible with many other systems.

I am aware of the numerous issues regarding the Civil Liberties concerns with CCTV systems. I also believe there’s a balance to be struck, and I hope we can do that here in Letterkenny.

Thanks for your kind words on my site.

Damien

By Damien Blake on 01.10.06 10:55 pm e

Thanks for that Damien, its good of you to come back on the question.

To clarify- when you say that the elected members will be responsible for policy as to how the cameras are used, would that policy include co-operating with a traffic monitoring database, if the Gardai requested it? And would you have the right to opt-in or out as you saw fit?

By Simon on 01.11.06 11:28 am e

There’s been no approach as yet to the council regarding any connections with any other systems. The Gardai (locally) have helped in our application, but have not been leading it in any specific direction, nor have they made any requests or recommendations regarding technology.

The Council has been slow to support the system so far, that is to say they’ve cautiously supported it. The policy regarding who gets to access the system still has to be finalised; we’re probably a year away from seeing the cameras in place.

I don’t believe the council would support connecting our cameras to any wider system of any sort, particularly one as long-lasting as the Number Plate recognition system mentioned in the article you quote above.

By Damien Blake on 01.11.06 5:43 pm

6 Comments

  • celtictigger says:

    The existence of a ‘data monitor’ (which I presume is synonymous with data controller in Data Protection speak) is laudable and shows an awareness of data privacy concerns in Letterkenny. However, the provisions of the Data Protection Act empower the law enforcement agents of the state to request and compel the relase of data that would otherwise be protected where it is necessary to permit the detection of a criminal offence.

    My guess is that the first port of call of the DOJ will be to make a case by case request for any CCTV footage on a near daily basis at which will in turn lead the Dept of Environment to implement ‘sharing of infrastructure’ to avoid having to waste local authority funds on ad hoc queries for CCTV footage.

    But that said, the fact that people are aware that there is a data protection act and are familiar with the concepts (if not the terminology) is a sign of some increasing maturity in this space.

    Pity other local councillors who used email lists in their possession for council business to canvass people (which was subject of a Data Protection Commission complaint last year…) haven’t learned those lessons.

  • Damien Blake says:

    Firstly, yes Data Monitor is the same as Data Controller.

    I have been pushing for the implementation of the CCTV system, but am not a Big Government fanatic who thinks our every move should be recorded and made available. There are many on the Council who remain sceptical about the system, and there will have to be a very definite balance between privacy and crime prevention/prosecution.

    To put it simply, if the system got to a stage where it was not supported by a majority of the 9 councillors (currently 4 FF, 1 FG, 1 SF, 1 Green, 1 IndFF, 1 Ind), the funding would be cut and the system removed. Planning Permission would then be required to implement a new system in the town.

    Personally, Data Protection is very important to me (I have DRI in my RSS feeds, and I’m on their mailing list).

    This CCTV system has been long proposed in Letterkenny, and I have come under some pressure for pushing this Community-Based system over a Garda-led system. I thoroughly believe this system can be a force for good, but must be operated in a clear and transparent manner with a very clear policy. This is only possible, I feel, when the operators of the system can be told exactly what to do with it. That’s where local democracy comes in!

  • celtictigger says:

    Damien,

    From what you say in your response, you are a truly informed and proactive leader of your community and should get a medal (or at least re-elected).

    I commend your vision, courage and clear thinking on this matter. The policy framework you have outlined above would seem to provide a good standard of protection of personal rights and certainly should operate to frustrate anyone piggybacking on your system.

  • celtictigger says:

    That’s reality TV going a bit too far… 😉

  • […] Perhaps a little something on what the Green Party are doing/thinking/saying on all these issues might be good too. He could even take a leaf out of Damien Blake’s book and tell us in the comments. […]

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