CCTV audit held ‘til Oct 25

Both organisations say they believe some or all of the review - commissioned by Derry City Council last December and conducted by Analysys Mason - may be exempt from disclosure on health and safety and law enforcement grounds.

Both organisations have confirmed to the Sentinel that even if they decide to release the report - demanded by the Northern Ireland Audit Office (NIAO) two years ago after an investigation into public CCTV procurement in the city - they will not do so until after the deadline for a new tender has passed.

Derry City Council is again inviting tenders for the city centre surveillance project but the deadline for submissions is October 25.

The local authority says some or all of the report may be exempt from release under sections 31 and 38 of the Freedom of Information Act. Section 31 exempts information if its disclosure would be likely to, prejudice law enforcement.

Section 38 exempts information if its disclosure would be likely to endanger the physical or mental health of any individual, or endanger the safety of any individual.

The Council said it will provide us with a response by October 25 - the day of the tender deadline.

The PSNI says it will now provide the paper with a response by October 31.

Originally, when the Sentinel asked the PSNI on May 24 for copies of any reports commissioned by the PSNI - jointly or solely - into the City Centre Initiative CCTV operation in Londonderry over the past two years it responded: “PSNI have not commissioned any reports, either solely or jointly, into CCI CCTV within the last two years.”

On September 5 the Sentinel wrote once again to the PSNI to say the paper was resubmitting its original request of May 24.

The paper pointed out: “As part of the review of the CCTV procurement process the panel recommended a review of the CCTV system be carried out.

“DCC and the PSNI were then to decide if the CCTV contract should be re-tendered.

“I’d like to know if that review took place, if so when was it completed, and I’d like the full written report of the review.

“If the review was completed before May 24, I’d also like to know why it wasn’t released to me in my original request.

“I’d also like to know if the CCTV contract will be re-tendered and if so when.”

The Sentinel has since reported the contract is being re-tendered.

The PSNI subsequently confirmed it needed more time to decide whether it could release the publicly funded report on public interest grounds.