Surveillance Cameras End Vandalism and Illegal Dumping in Santa Cruz Park

Eight months after installing video surveillance in Santa Cruz de Tenerife’s García Sanabria Park, the City Council reports that vandalism and the illegal dumping of invasive species have been successfully stopped.

The installation of four panoramic cameras, which include deterrent speakers, has secured key areas of the park, such as the Flower Clock and the Frog Pond. Previously, these spots were frequent targets for damage to the clock’s machinery and the release of exotic animals—including piranhas, turtles, and crustaceans—which threatened the park's delicate ecosystem.

The project cost 13,000 euros and was backed by a technical report from the Neotrópico Foundation. This report helped secure the necessary government authorization for the cameras, which now operate 24 hours a day.

Carlos Tarife, the local councilor, noted that there have been zero incidents since the system was activated in February. Under the current protocol, footage is stored for a maximum of 28 days. If any criminal or administrative offenses are detected, the recordings are handed over to the police or judicial authorities for further action.

This initiative is part of a wider strategy to protect the city’s historical and natural sites. By working with conservation experts, the council has managed to curb the spread of invasive species that would have otherwise caused irreversible damage to the park's native biodiversity. The project serves as a model for preventive surveillance that protects one of the Canary Islands' most iconic green spaces while remaining fully compliant with data protection laws.