CCTV control centre move due to security worry

Mr Roddy advised there had been a number of “cold callers” at the current control centre and that this had raised concerns given the current security situation.

Documents released to the Sentinel by Derry City Council show the CCI boss wrote to Mr Meehan on March 31 explaining the company had embarked on a tendering exercise and had located a suitable sub-contractor to provide enhanced CCTV coverage for the city.

In June the Sentinel reported how CCTV operator Ulster Support Employment Ltd (USEL) was seeking guidance on the review and re-tender of the CCI monitoring operation, which it appeared set to lose despite 10 years of delivery.

At a USEL board meeting in April it was noted: “The Company has received notification that the CCTV monitoring contract in L/derry may come to an end. ..

“The CEO is investigating whether the tendering process was within public procurement guidelines.”

Now new documents released to the Sentinel show that Mr Roddy argued the CCTV move was inspired partly out of security fears, partly out of a desire to meet industry standards and partly out of an enhanced CCTV offering brought by the proposed new supplier.

In his email to Mr Meehan, Mr Roddy wrote: “Our current site at (*********) has been in existence for over ten years and although it has served us well it is beginning to fall below the required standards of BS 5979 which we require for the monitoring of public space CCTV.

“More importantly it has become a security worry as we have had a number of ’cold callers’ at the station over recent weeks, something that has not happened before.”

He went on to advise how CCI had gone through a tendering process and “located a new monitoring station that meets all the requirements of BS 5979 and is available for immediate occupation.”

A selling point of the new location was that “in partnership with the owners of this new monitoring station we can introduce a new monitoring regime that enables us to monitor 24/7, it is currently 19/7.”

All of this had been implemented through the CCTV sub-committee, explained Mr Roddy. The Londonderry Town Clerk and two elected councillors sit on the CCI sub-committee.

The CCI boss went on to advised the move would cost £21,000 to complete and that the company had already secured funding for this.

“In order to complete the move I need to ask you if Derry City Council can commit to the same level of funding for the CCTV for the next three years in order to keep the price lower and make the move cost effective we need to, in principle agree with out new landlords that we will enter into a three year deal.

“We have agreed this with our other funder, the PSNI,” he wrote.

“Sorry for hassling you but given the current security situation and the importance of CCTV in relation to police enquiries/public safety I need to move with caution, haste having given due diligence to the arrangements,” he added.

Later that day Derry City Council Economic Development officer Tony Monaghan wrote to the council’s Director of Development Oonagh McGillion with his appraisal of the request, also referring to compliance with BS standards, the current high level security risks and the need for a fit-to-purpose CCTV solution as critical factors

behind the proposed move.

“The PSNI and CCI are keen that this is resolved as soon as is possible and they (CCI) have embarked on a tendering exercise to assess suitable sub-contractors to provide the service based on the above,” wrote Mr Monaghan.

“They have identified a potential solution that will meet all of their needs for a similar (possibly reduced) cost compared to the current arrangement,” he stated.

Over a week later on April 11 the Acting Town Clerk’s office wrote to Mr Roddy advising the matter had been discussed with the party leaders on Derry City Council.

The Town Clerk confirmed its funding arrangement with CCI would continue in accordance with current policy.

“Further to your recent email regarding proposals for relocation of the CCTV monitoring arrangements, I have discussed the matter with Party Leaders.

“The Members have reaffirmed the current policy in which the Council provides ongoing revenue support for CCTV management services,” wrote Mr Meehan.

“This position will continue for the foreseeable future and I do not anticipate any significant policy change,” he added.

In June a spokesperson for USEL told the Sentinel: “While we recognise CCI is a separate entity from the funders, it is potentially public funds which are used to pay for the service.

“Therefore USEL is seeking guidance in the matter of the CCTV tender, simply to ensure the process has provided the most appropriate open, transparent and fairest opportunity in respect to the award winning USEL employees who currently monitor the CCTV on behalf of CCI.”

The paper understands the firm has been in touch with the Northern Ireland Audit Office (NIAO) about the matter.

Over a decade ago CCI was selected by Derry City Council to establish and maintain the CCTV scheme to create a “safe and secure environment for all those who visit, live, work and do business in Londonderry.”

After much angst over the potential abuse of the system a Code of Practice was compiled in consultation with the wider Londonderry public enshrining the principles of Human Rights legislation and was formally adopted by Derry City Council in September 2001.

USEL was set up in March 1962 as an Executive Non Departmental Public body under the Department for Employment and Learning and is constituted as a company limited by guarantee having charitable status under the Inland Revenue.

Over the past ten years USEL employed a core staff of five in Londonderry including a monitoring manager, under its supported-employment programme, aimed at people with disabilities.

After it learned the contract for the day-to-day running of the system had been re-tendered it said the protection of the local team of employees and their employment rights is a number one priority.

A spokesperson said: “The service which USEL delivers to the City Centre Initiative is an award winning service delivery. Currently we are aware that CCI is reviewing the entire service delivery for the city.

“While we are not in a position to comment on CCI’s plans beyond this, we understand there is a commitment by CCI to ensure the current award winning team of local individuals remains intact whatever the outcome.”

A spokesperson for Derry City Council said it was formally notified by the CCI as a co-funder of the CCTV scheme that it was reviewing and re-tendering the contract.

The Sentinel asked CCI for further details of the tendering exercise but had not received a response at the time of going to press.