LIMERICK people are being asked to make their feelings known on whether traffic wardens should wear bodycams to help keep them safe.
Limerick City and County Council (LCCC) is inviting members of the public to participate in a consultation on the proposal.
This comes as 100 Limerick Gardaí were issued with bodycams at the start of this month as part of a three-county trial.
The move to provide members of the force with cameras has been the subject of heated debate, with issues being raised about privacy rights and civil liberties.
The traffic warden initiative is proposed to be piloted over a six-month period and aims to enhance the security and safety of wardens while performing their duties.
LCCC proposes a six-month trial of body-worn cameras (BWC) in the Limerick Metropolitan District.
“The primary objective of introducing BWCs is to reduce incidents of violence and aggression towards traffic wardens, providing them with a safer working environment,” a Council spokesman said.
The BWCs will not be live monitoring, according to the proposal, and will remain turned off unless a Warden perceives or anticipates a threat, at which point they will activate the device to record audio, video, and GPS data.
The Council said footage would be securely stored and accessed only by authorised personnel, ensuring privacy and data protection.
“The Council is committed to ensuring that the introduction of BWCs is beneficial to the community. Feedback from residents, businesses, and staff is crucial in shaping the final decision on the deployment of these devices,” the spokesman added.
The consultation survey is open until 4pm on September 9. All responses are anonymous and no personal data will be retained by LCCC.
Participants need to register on mypoint.limerick.ie to complete the survey. Alternatively, email responses can be submitted to [email protected]. Written responses can be sent to Body Worn Cameras for Traffic Wardens – Public Consultation, Limerick City and County Council, Merchant’s Quay, Limerick.
