Following our last public meeting, concerns were raised regarding the lack of CCTV in the Calton area, and the impact of this on anti-social behaviour in the area. The trouble between opposing football fans in the run up to Xmas was cited as was drug taking and consumption in the St. Andrew’s Square area. Mr Mason has responded to these issues by email to the CCC. His response is included here for information as a follow up to matters raised at the meeting.
CCTV in the area
“Pauline McNeill MSP raised the question of Sunday’s football fan behaviour at First Minister’s Questions today. She was focussed on many CCTV cameras not working in Glasgow. However, it did mean that the Presiding Officer did not take my question which was on (roughly) the same subject.“
“Below is the statement made by Councillor Laura Doherty (which came to me via Baillie Annette Christie of Glasgow Life) concerning CCTV cameras in Glasgow:
“Glasgow has the largest public space CCTV and traffic camera network in Scotland, with 542 cameras in total. NRS maintenance teams work diligently to resolve and repair a wide range of camera and network faults. This team provides significant expertise and knowledge to support the management of a 24/7 operation, ensuring the management and maintenance of Glasgow’s CCTV network is a priority, and providing essential support for traffic management and public reassurance and safety.
The Glasgow CCTV estate is now nearly 12 years old. Industry best practice typically recommends that camera networks undergo a refresh programme after seven years. However, such upgrades require substantial capital investment over several years. Operating 24/7 in all weather conditions, the estate is significantly exposed to the external environment, leading to ongoing engineering challenges.
NRS colleagues are currently working with contractors to resolve issues and ensure camera faults are addressed as quickly as possible. Every effort is made to repair cameras daily, prioritising the locations of most need. The time taken to repair or replace a camera depends on the nature of the fault. A common fault is condensation which can take up to four weeks per camera to repair. Pixelation, another frequent issue, requires input and resources from contractors and can take 4–6 weeks to identify, test, and resolve.
As of October 2024, 90 cameras, that 17%, across the network were identified as faulty. Of these, 45, or 8% of the total, had significant faults requiring replacement, while the other 45 had minor issues.
A network of this size and complexity will experience faults and failures. However, every effort is made to ensure the cameras remain operational. These challenges are not unique to Glasgow, but the scale of our network means we face significantly more demands than other local authorities.
The service is currently exploring capital funding opportunities to purchase additional cameras, which would help alleviate some of the challenges faced.“