The island’s CCTV network will be upgraded to help police tackle crime, the Throne Speech promised yesterday.

Rena Lalgie, the Governor, said that public safety would be “enhanced by marrying technology to crime prevention and detection” in the new session of Parliament.

Ms Lalgie, who delivered the speech on behalf of the Government, said: “During this session, the Ministry of National Security will advance a new island-wide CCTV system, which will include newer features to assist the police in tackling road traffic offences and violent crime.”

Then-Commissioner of Police Stephen Corbishley said earlier this year that the network was obsolete and needed to get “back up to standard”.

But he said that a final decision on funding the cost of upgrades was in the hands of the Government.

The Royal Gazette asked Renee Ming, the Minister for National Security, for comment on CCTV upgrades several times, but no response was ever given.

The Opposition One Bermuda Alliance today questioned why existing cameras had been allowed to deteriorate.

Michael Dunkley, the shadow national security minister, said: “We have questions to ask on it because we have a system that is not that old. I was the minister when it was implemented probably six or seven years ago.

“The real challenge we have with this is twofold. One is we know that the current system has been allowed to deteriorate and cameras haven’t been fixed when they’re not working and this has not helped police in their fight against crime.

“And secondly, we’re going with a whole new system which is going to be quite expensive but we don’t hear any details about what technology is going to be used to expand it more from just the police watching you.”

Mr Dunkley also asked: “Are there going to be speed cameras put in place?”

He said: “All these types of technologies we’ve been talking about for years, and they’ve been in many Throne Speeches and Budget debates, and we haven’t seen them.

“We need this system to work island-wide and it’s an important tool, but the PLP has shown that their effectiveness with the use of money leads to questions and we’re going to be right on it.”