Glasgow Council is considering leaving its CCTV cameras unmanned.
In a radical move to save £50m, Glasgow City Council is considering leaving its 429 CCTV cameras unmanned for 12 hours every day, which has sparked controversy and concern among council unions. The proposal has remained under the radar since it was first unveiled in last month’s budget document, prompting accusations of secrecy and a lack of transparency. The unions claim that the move could put children in danger as the cameras would not be monitored between 4am and 4pm.
Although the council argues that there would be no significant impact on protected groups, a report into the proposal highlights potential safety concerns for children and the detection and reporting of hate crimes in the city. The plan suggests relying on overstretched police to provide support and effective camera placement in known problem areas.
However, unions have condemned the proposal as “short-sighted and unworkable”, warning that it could compromise public safety. The GMB has called for additional CCTV operators to be hired, instead of reducing staffing hours and headcount. Meanwhile, UNISON has been pushing the council for further details on the plan for weeks.
As the debate rages on, Glasgow City Council maintains that public space CCTV will continue to operate round the clock. It remains to be seen whether the proposal will be approved and implemented, and what impact it will have on public safety in Scotland’s largest city.
An important question to consider is would we would feel safe and protected if the council were to implement this proposal?
