I refer to the letter by Paul Pullicino published in MaltaToday on 17 and 24 August 2008 in your paper, in reply to my letter published on 10 August on subject in caption.
The correspondent’s main argument is that whereas with respect to speed cameras (speed monitoring devices), the production of photographic evidence thereof constitutes proof of their content, CCTV cameras are not specifically mentioned in the said regulations. It should be stressed however, that as rightly pointed out by your correspondent there is other legislation that specifically mentions CCTV as one of the means for local enforcement, where the production of such photographic evidence can be contested with respect to the proof of its contents.
However, even if no such mention is made one must also be informed that there is nothing stopping the prosecution from bringing forth this kind of evidence, amongst others, to substantiate the charges brought against an individual.
For the sake of reassuring your correspondent that no “word games” are being played (indeed my intention is to clarify rather than complicate matters), the point is that it would be misleading to give readers the impression that the use of CCTV cameras and production as evidence of images taken therefrom is in any way illegal.

Natalino Attard
Director, Local Government