Red Tape Halts CCTV Plan Amid Claim Drug Gangs Are Running Rampant In Derrinturn

Monday, 10 March 2025 12:31

By Martin Osborne

That's according to Fine Gael Cllr Brendan Wyse. He has claimed that "hundreds of thousands of euro of damage" is being carried out on houses by drug gangs in Derrinturn.

Derrinturn, and not Clane, should be the pilot village for a community CCTV scheme.

That's according to Fine Gael Cllr Brendan Wyse.

He has claimed that "hundreds of thousands of euro of damage" is being carried out on houses by drug gangs in Derrinturn.

He further alleged that homes of innocent people are being burned down in cases of mistaken identity.

However, the proposal faces significant legislative and procedural challenges.

Kildare County Council acknowledged that Derrinturn could be considered for the scheme, provided elected members agree to reallocate Local Property Tax funds to support the project.

However, the council highlighted a key obstacle: under current legislation, local Authorities must obtain authorisation from a Joint Policing Committee (JPC) before applying to the Garda Commissioner for approval.

With JPCs no longer in operation, there is currently no mechanism for Local Authorities to establish Community CCTV schemes.

Instead, the only available route is for Gardaí themselves to apply directly to the Commissioner under Sections 38 and 27 of the relevant acts.

Uncertainty remains over whether the newly established Local Community Safety Partnerships - set to replace JPCs - will play a role in approving such applications.

Regulations governing these partnerships are still awaited, leaving the future of local authority-led community CCTV initiatives unclear.

The council's report suggests that unless legislative changes are made or new regulations clarify the process, progressing a community CCTV scheme in Derrinturn or any other village will remain difficult.