Peace Bridge CCTV link upleft Foyleside blind spot

A REVIEW of our public CCTV system obtained by the Sentinel under Freedom of Information legislation reveals coverage of Foyleside Shopping Centre was knocked out during changes to secure coverage of the Peace Bridge.
By The Newsroom
Published 10th Nov 2013, 07:16 BST
Approximate CCTV camera positions in Londonderry as reported by Analysys Mason in the Spring. A number of newly-installed cameras around the City Walls aren't shown. Further cameras are planned along the Quay.Approximate CCTV camera positions in Londonderry as reported by Analysys Mason in the Spring. A number of newly-installed cameras around the City Walls aren't shown. Further cameras are planned along the Quay.
Approximate CCTV camera positions in Londonderry as reported by Analysys Mason in the Spring. A number of newly-installed cameras around the City Walls aren't shown. Further cameras are planned along the Quay.

The report by independent consultants Analysys Mason, which was carried out at the turn of the year, says that Ilex cameras at the Peace Bridge, Ebrington Parade and Ebrington Square are not connected to a control room in the Waterside that has been monitoring the city centre CCTV for over a decade.

Rather they are fed to a separate control room in the city.

All of the Ebrington cameras are connected to a central point and then use a wireless bridge to connect to the top of the Foyleside Shopping Centre but this has actually knocked out coverage of the front of Londonderry’s biggest shopping centre.

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The report states: “Transmission from the Foyle shopping centre then uses the fibre link originally provided for Camera 18 to connect to a newly installed 96-fibre Virgin Media cable to [redacted] control room. Therefore, Camera 18 can no longer be viewed from the [redacted] control room.”

The PSNI identified several other of blind spots in the current coverage. The police wanted better coverage at Magazine Street, Castle Street and Castle Gate; Camera 8 at Waterloo Street doesn’t see far enough around the corner to Castle Street; the cameras at Guildhall Square don’t give sufficient coverage; there should be better coverage at Custom House Street and the Foyle Street bus stops; Camera 26 at Dale’s Corner should be moved to provide better coverage of Limavady road and Clooney Terrace; and Camera 3 on the Strand Road near Clarendon Street should be relocated to improve coverage along the Strand Road.

Related topics:CCTV