Canillo Leader Demands Urgent Approval for Traffic Agents' Body Cameras

Canillo's council leader, Jordi Alcobé, has demanded greater urgency from the national Videovigilance Commission to issue a favourable opinion on body-worn cameras for traffic agents before 1 December.

Alcobé voiced irritation over the lack of approval so far, stressing that all seven parishes have already adopted the necessary regulations and purchased the devices in anticipation of authorisation. "We can't keep them in a drawer," he said, referring to the agreement to activate the cameras from that date onward. He urged the government, which has representatives on the commission, to expedite the process, noting that executives had previously committed to enabling such controls as quickly as possible.

While not ruling out unilateral activation without formal clearance—a step raised by local councils—Alcobé avoided specifics on Canillo's next moves. "Why assume it won't be ready by then?" he replied to reporters, adding that the parish would address any shortfall if it occurred.

The remarks echo recent frustrations aired by the mayors of Andorra la Vella and Sant Julià de Lòria over the commission's slow pace. Canillo first ignited the debate by testing cameras during its summer festival without permission, a practice later ruled unlawful by the Andorran Data Protection Agency.

Alcobé criticised the government for delegating the decision to an external body despite its influence there, underscoring persistent friction between parishes and the executive on expanding surveillance for security in high-traffic areas like ski slopes. No timeline updates have come from the commission.