NO funding is available to reintroduce CCTV to the Holylands student area of south Belfast, a council report has said amid increased concerns over anti-social behaviour.
Councillors last month agreed to consider reinstalling CCTV after permanent residents reported problems during Freshers' Week when throngs of students arrived for the new university term.
Surveillance cameras previously in place were removed earlier this year – just weeks before disturbances over St Patrick's that saw bottles thrown at police.
However, a council report commissioned to examine the issue said: "The current position remains that no partner funding is available at present to contribute to fixed CCTV systems."
It added that police are "not in a position to monitor any additional CCTV cameras".
More than 300 anti-social behaviour incidents were recorded in the Holylands during freshers' week with council officials confiscating over 600 units of alcohol.
However, only nine people in the wider university area have been fined in the past year for street drinking offences, according to a council Freedom of Information response.
Last night the Belfast Holylands Regeneration Association held a public meeting inviting politicians to discuss new ways of tackling anti-social behaviour.
The association's chair Ray Farley hit out at the council report for rejecting new CCTV cameras.
"I really despair. It seems to be on the face of it quite a simple thing, cameras gathering evidence," he said ahead of the meeting.
"We seem to have constant reports, constant meetings, but it really doesn't move anywhere."
But Alliance councillor Emmet McDonough-Brown, who had called for the report to be compiled, said he remained "optimistic".
"This report is a step forward. The Holylands is fixable – that has always been my belief," he said.
"I think residents will be pleased to see the issue on the agenda. It will be through partnership working that we will be able to restore the Holylands to a place of residential character."
The report was discussed yesterday at the people and communities committee at Belfast City Council.
It said CCTV can be useful, but on its own is "not effective" in addressing crime and anti-social behaviour.
The report added that mobile CCTV and body worn cameras are now available to the council when needed.
The council has also asked Stormont's justice and communities departments to review the effectiveness of legislation and bye-laws designed to tackle street drinking.
The original CCTV system was ditched following a council report highlighting its cost.
It found the system would cost up to £150,000 to upgrade and £45,000 to maintain for three years. Council officers advised that there was no budget to invest in the system.
The people and communities committee voted in January to dismantle the system.
In February, Mr McDonough-Brown proposed keeping the system for another three years. However, the DUP, UUP and Sinn Féin voted it down.
