Ballymena CCTV questions: Council confirms 19 cameras but won’t say how many work
Church Street in Ballymena town centre where one of the council’s 19 cameras is located.
Tuesday 20 October 2026
Mid and East Antrim Borough Council has confirmed there are 19 CCTV cameras in Ballymena but has refused to reveal how many are currently operational, following questions raised by court evidence that cameras covering part of Church Street were not working.
The council disclosed the total number of cameras in response to a Freedom of Information (FOI) request from Love Ballymena but withheld details of their locations and operational status, citing concerns that releasing the information could undermine crime prevention and public safety.
The request followed evidence heard at Antrim Magistrates’ Court, sitting in Ballymena, where a police officer told the court that CCTV footage could not be obtained because cameras covering the relevant area of Church Street were not functioning.
It has not been established whether the cameras referred to during the proceedings were part of the council-operated CCTV network.
Court hears cameras were not working
The issue emerged during proceedings on 29 September concerning an alleged breach of a restraining order relating to an incident on 21 September.
During the hearing, District Judge Nigel Broderick asked whether CCTV footage was available from the town centre.
A police officer explained that checks had failed to establish footage of the alleged incident because cameras covering the relevant area were not working.
The evidence raised questions about the availability of CCTV coverage in Ballymena town centre and prompted Love Ballymena to seek information about the council’s camera network.
Council confirms 19 cameras but withholds operational figures
In its FOI response, dated 20 October, Mid and East Antrim Borough Council confirmed that 19 CCTV cameras form part of its Ballymena system.
However, the council declined to disclose where the cameras are located or how many are currently operational, relying on Section 31 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, which provides an exemption for information where disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice law enforcement.
Explaining its decision, the council stated:
“Disclosure may assist those seeking to engage in criminal, anti-social or unlawful activity by allowing them to avoid monitored locations, thus reducing the effectiveness of CCTV as a deterrent to crime and disorder and may impact on public safety in general.”
The council did not provide an overall figure for functioning cameras, meaning it remains unclear how many of Ballymena’s 19 council-operated cameras are currently in service.
The response also did not establish whether any cameras are presently defective or awaiting repair.
Questions over CCTV reliability and maintenance
The disclosure comes amid wider questions about how CCTV infrastructure in Ballymena is monitored, maintained and repaired, particularly when cameras develop faults or become unavailable.
Public-space CCTV can play an important role in deterring crime, supporting police investigations and providing evidence following incidents in busy town-centre locations.
The availability of functioning cameras can therefore be particularly significant when police seek footage to establish the circumstances surrounding an alleged offence.
While the council has cited law enforcement concerns in withholding operational information, questions remain about the procedures used to identify faults, the timescales for repairs and the oversight arrangements governing the network.
Further clarification being sought
Love Ballymena is seeking further clarification from Mid and East Antrim Borough Council concerning the cameras referred to during the Church Street court proceedings, including whether they were council-operated, when any faults were identified and what action was taken.
Further information is also being sought about the inspection, maintenance and repair arrangements for Ballymena’s 19 CCTV cameras, including how quickly faults are detected and resolved.
The enquiries are intended to establish how the network is maintained and what measures are in place to ensure CCTV coverage remains reliable, without compromising sensitive security information.
