With the aim of combating vandalism and protecting municipal property, procedures are underway to install closed-circuit video surveillance systems (CCTV) in six public spaces throughout the city, Limassol Mayor Yiannis Armeftis told CNA.
As the Mayor of Limassol noted, the entire process is being carried out in consultation with the Office of the Commissioner for the Protection of Personal Data and with the Municipality’s external legal advisor, so that any installation is fully compliant with the law and the principle of proportionality.
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The first three sites, for which the evaluation process is already underway, are Goguen Park, Philellinon Park, and the historic center of Agia Fyla; and according to the Mayor of Limassol, the assessment so far for the two parks is positive, subject to certain conditions. Specifically, he clarified, the cameras should be limited to the perimeter of the facilities requiring protection, without recording areas where the intrusion into privacy would be disproportionate, such as restrooms.
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Regarding the historic center of Agia Fyla, he continued, adjustments were requested due to the daily foot traffic of residents and visitors and the presence of residences and dining establishments in the surrounding area, as well as further documentation regarding the necessity and proportionality of the measure. Consequently, Mr. Armeftis said, the Municipality made changes to precisely define the location of each camera, its range, and its exact field of view, to ensure that there would be no disproportionate intrusion into citizens’ privacy.
In addition, he noted, the Municipality has initiated the process of preparing Impact Assessment Reports for the Embankment, the Coastal Road, and the area around the Agia Fyla High School. For these areas, he noted, data is being collected from the relevant municipal departments regarding incidents or risks of vandalism, fires, and environmental problems, so that the necessary documentation is available to justify the installation of a video surveillance system.
The Mayor of Limassol noted that, in addition to data protection procedures, the technical specifications of the system must be finalized, including how data will be stored and managed and the level of access the contractor may have.
“The plan is to proceed with a bidding process to select a contractor and finalize the technical specifications, and to complete the relevant process in consultation with the relevant authorities,” he added.
In closing, he noted that the Municipality’s goal is to establish a clear and lawful framework for the installation of a closed-circuit video surveillance system in public spaces, where there is a documented need to protect municipal property and address recurring incidents of vandalism, without compromising the protection of citizens’ privacy.
Source: KYPE
