DPP Taipei City councilors lashed out at the Taipei City Police Department （TCPD） on Thursday for the "unusually high number" of security cameras surrounding former Taipei mayor Ma Ying-jeous （馬英九） residence.
"At the moment, there are 22 security cameras altogether covering a 50 square meter area surrounding Mas residence" Democratic Progressive Party （DPP） city councilor Huang Hsiang-chun （黃向群） told a press conference, "which is a density that is 10 times higher than the average of 50 cameras per square kilometer in the city."

"All intersections with streets that lead to Mas residence are monitored by a security camera; eight of the cameras directly monitor the front entrance and the back alley of Mas residence," said Lee Chien-chang （李建昌）, another DPP city councilor at the press conference, while pointing out locations of the security cameras on a map.

"Its a waste of government resources," he said.

TCPD officials rebutted the accusation.

"The number of security cameras in the area was decided based on the population, and all cameras were set up to ensure public safety," said Lou Jin-ding （婁金定）, director of the departments crime prevention division.

However, Lous explanation did not convince the DPP councilors.

"Its true that these cameras were set up for public safety, and at critical spots, but the problem is where they point," DPP city councilor Hsu Shu-hwa （許淑華） said.

For example, although one camera is located near a bank, "it doesnt point at the bank, but at Mas residence," she said.