CCTV cameras in the Nowra CBD have been switched off following a ruling made by the Administrative Decisions Tribunal.
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The decision was made after Shoalhaven City Council was found to have breached several clauses of the Privacy and Personal Information Act.
After allegations made by a member of the public, only identified as SF, that the council had used its CCTV cameras to obtain personal information from him, the council was ordered to refrain from any conduct or action in contravention of the act.
The tribunal also ordered the council to render a written apology to SF for the breaches and advise him of any steps to be taken by council to remove the possibility of similar breaches in the future.
The cameras are to remain turned off until the decision of the tribunal has been considered.
Shoalhaven Mayor Joanna Gash said she was disappointed with the tribunal’s decision to turn off the cameras.
‘‘Council will need to wade through the details of the judgement and discuss where to go from here,’’ Cr Gash said.
‘‘I believe that the law seems to be making it extremely difficult for councils to help the community and police reduce crime.’’