Tourism Zone Monitoring: Installation of CCTV cameras in Paceville

The Malta Tourism Authority has been monitoring the Tourism Zones for the past five years through a specially-designated unit within the Product Development Directorate. This unit is responsible to ensure that the mundane tasks of urban management are executed by the respective local councils and to ensure that central government is providing the necessary support through extra human and financial resources.

Within this context of support and of further improving the monitoring function within the Tourism Zones, it was felt that the next step would be to invest in the installation of a CCTV network in those localities that may be considered as Tourism Priority Areas and that are considered to be at highest risk.

This pilot project will focus on St Julian’s with particular emphasis on Paceville and will address a series of issues about which a number of complaints have been registered throughout recent months.

These monitoring devices, apart from providing a deterrent, will offer the opportunity of round-the-clock surveillance of these sensitive zones, they will help officers identify possible illicit behaviour and will provide the opportunity for law enforcement officers to take remedial action.

In view of this, an agreement has been reached between the MTA, the KDM Group of Companies, the St Julian’s Local Council and the Police Force. The system will be installed and commissioned by the KDM Group and operated through funds made available by the St Julians Local Council as a normal enforcement surveillance operation. The Police Force will provide the necessary law-enforcement back-up. The MTA is providing the initial capital funding and is in charge of co-ordinating the implementation of the scheme.

The five new cameras together with an existing camera near the Hilton roundabout will provide a comprehensive coverage of the entire Paceville area. The locations indicated will ensure extensive monitoring of pedestrian and vehicle movement.

The locations which are being considered are the following:

St George’s Bay
Dragonara Gate
Triq Wilga c/w Paceville Avenue
St Rita’s Steps
Pjazza Paceville
Gort Street c/w Triq San Gorg

Improving safety and security in our prime entertainment hotspots is one of the objectives of the Authority and the Parliamentary Secretariat for Tourism. If this pilot project is successful we would be able to ensure that the Malta product is experienced in a safer manner.

This issue is available at: 0808.