BIG BROTHER?

All of the cameras in the town - of which there are 2.8 per 1,000 people - are under the control of Ballymoney Borough Council.

The total of 76 CCTV cameras compares to 22 in Ballymena - 0.4 cameras per 1,000 people - while Coleraine has no external cameras in operation and six inside council property, the report claims.

Ballymoney UUP Alderman James Simpson said he was “absolutely amazed” at the number of council-controlled CCTV cameras in the town and vowed to ask questions of council chiefs regarding the costs involved in maintaining and monitoring the equipment.

“I am absolutely amazed there are 76 CCTV cameras in Ballymoney, according to this report,” he told the Times.

“It’s astonishing. I had no idea there were so many and I would be very interested to find out exactly where they are.

“I would also be keen to find out how much it costs to maintain these things and who is monitoring them.

“The number does seem excessive.”

Mr Simpson said he did not see the number of cameras as a form of Big Brother - style snooping by councils.

The figures claim Moyle District Council has 33 external cameras but no indoor surveillance equipment.

These statistics have been refuted by the council however.

A spokesman said: “I can confirm that Moyle District Council has 33 CCTV Cameras under their control for security of their premises. However only 13 cameras are for surveillance purposes at external council sites Mary Street, Ballycastle Marina, Quay Road Sports Complex and two cameras are situated in the middle of the town in conjunction with Community Safety.

“The remaining 20 cameras are based at Sheskburn House, for for the external security of the building and 16 internal cameras to ensure the security and health and safety of the public at the council offices in Ballycastle.”

The figures were released in a report entitled Big Brother is Watching and were made public through the Freedom of Information Act. The body behind it - Big Brother Watch - say the report was aimed at establishing the full extent of Britain’s local authority-controlled surveillance.

The report doesn’t include the number of cameras owned by private individuals and companies.

Alex Deane, Director of Big Brother Watch, said: “Local councils across Britain are creating enormous networks of CCTV surveillance at great expense, but the evidence for the ability of CCTV to deter or solve crimes is sketchy at best.

“The quality of footage is frequently too poor to be used in courts, the cameras are often turned off to save money and control rooms are rarely manned 24-hours-a-day.

“With crime on the increase, it is understandable that some people want more CCTV, but we would all feel safer with more police on the bear, there would be fewer crimes and those crimes that do occur would be solved faster.”

A spokesperson for Ballymoney Borough Council, said: “These cameras are located in various council facilities throughout the borough and are utilised to facilitate the protection and management of the facilities.

“The CCTV scheme is operated under a CCTV Code of Practice adopted by Council."