A new CCTV security system will not be fully operational until the end of July — more than seven months later than planned.

A spokesman for the Ministry of National Security confirmed the new date in a statement yesterday after the minister, Michael Weeks, conducted a second tour of the system’s command centre at police headquarters, Prospect.

The announcement comes after the Free Democratic Movement warned that the new cameras may represent “an unlawful search and infringe on a person’s freedom of association”.

The FDM raised questions after meeting residents from the Loyal Hill area of Devonshire.

After hearing their concerns, Omar Dill, an FDM branch chairman, wrote a letter to Mr Weeks asking that he meet with residents.

Mr Dill pointed out that the location of one camera had moved from its proposed site, which had created a feeling of “mistrust” among residents.

Mr Dill wrote: “While the intent to enhance security is undoubtedly appreciated by many across Bermuda, it has sparked a sense of anxiety and distress among the Loyal Hill residents.

“I have been informed that the visibility of these cameras has notably discouraged the community’s children from playing outdoors.”

The FDM has now called for the camera to be relocated, and also for the concerns of residents to be addressed.

A party spokesman said: “The reports of children feeling anxious regarding playing outside and the privacy concerns of women in the constituency is disturbing and must be addressed immediately.

“We further understand that the proposed CCTV network has raised concerns about privacy among Bermudians as a whole.

“Many of these cameras are equipped with state-of-the-art facial-recognition software and can capture images using 30x zoom. We understand that the use of these cameras can represent an unlawful search and infringe on a person’s freedom of association.

“The FDM’s position on privacy rights is that there is a thin line between privacy and security. There should be protections in place to guarantee the security of the data this network collects, and a government should always collaborate with the people.”

Responding to residents’ concerns, Mr Weeks said: “In planning and choosing the sites for the installation of the island-wide CCTV system, various factors were given serious and deliberate consideration by our vendors and the Bermuda Police Service.

“Those factors included being able to increase the security of our neighbourhoods in particular, and Bermuda in general, as well as the right to privacy for individual citizens.

“We are satisfied that none of the cameras in our system will intrude on anyone’s individual privacy and residents across Bermuda can be assured that while this new system will enhance our overall security, no rights to privacy will be compromised.”

Those reassurances were supported by Darrin Simons, the Commissioner of Police.

Mr Simons said: “I appreciate the privacy concerns being raised, and our focus is on` public spaces and roadways. We aim, as much as possible, to avoid invading privacy.

“Robust protocols are in place around the use of the CCTV. These govern the system's use and safeguard the public. We are committed to using CCTV responsibly to keep the community safe."

The new system of 247 new cameras was unveiled last July and was expected to be up and running before the end of the year.

But in January a government spokesman advised that delays had pushed the completion date back to the end of April.

Last week, the spokesman said that work would continue until at least the end of May, adding that heavy rains and a lack of asphalt had caused the delay. Only 150 of the 247 new cameras have been installed, and only 60 are working.

In a statement yesterday, the spokesman said: “As the ministry previously stated, the project's island-wide implementation encountered delays due to frequent storms last summer and other circumstances beyond the control of the ministry and its CCTV partner, Digicel.

“However, despite these delays, significant progress has been made in installing this new technology, and the Government is well on its way to delivering on its promise.

“The aim is to have the project completed by July 2024.”

Mr Weeks said that the project was still within its $4 million budget, adding: “By embracing these technologies, we are enhancing our ability to safeguard our community and ensure that Bermuda remains at the forefront of modern policing techniques.

"I was very impressed by the dedication of our CCTV team, all of whom are Bermudian, who are mastering these tools to keep our island safe.“

The training programme is expected to enhance the operational efficiency of Bermuda's law enforcement agencies by enabling officers to detect and address security threats more effectively and proactively.

The FDM has created a website that it said was intended to “bring awareness to the vastness of the proposed CCTV cameras”.

“This website includes an interactive interface and we encourage the community to assist with the accuracy of the camera placements by sending pictures to locations@listentothepeople.net.

• The website is at www.listentothepeople.net