Intrusive Secruty Messaures In The UK

The British govrnment has spent �358,000 on CCTV in one borough alone and i find this quite worrieing and (dont) quote me on this but i think that figure is 3 years old. The average London resident is caught on CCTV 300 times a day! I live in the UK and in the town i live in there are only 2 on juty officers and that is through two towns. Now i would rather have 6 coppers than one hundred CCTV cameras. I am sure you all heard that MI5 or MI6 whatever can moniter phone call, Emails and text messages now they can watch almost all the time. That worries me.

[edit on 15-9-2004 by shorty]

Why should it worry you? The only people who should be concerned are so those who are carrying out illegal activity. Are you?

Why should it worry you? The only people who should be concerned are so those who are carrying out illegal activity. Are you?

And I suppose you wouldn't mind somebody walking right behind you following you everywhere you go?

If you don't mind your freedom being eroded, you don't deserve freedom.

People with your frame of mind are what turn democracies into authoritarian governments.

-Attero

Uhuh, I didn't realise CCTV cameras could walk, is that a UK thing?

The six police officers can walk, follow you, 'erode your freedom'.

I don't deserve freedom, do I? That's a bit rich. Maybe I'm just more comfortable in myself, there's security cameras everywhere already, I'm not bothered by them, I don't let them bother me, although I have been known to smile and wave at them, completely legal!

"People with your frame of mind are what turn democracies into authoritarian governments." You sound like you'd like to run an authoritarian gov't. And what exactly is is 'my frame of mind'? Are some kind of cyber-pyschiatrist, diagnosing over the net, cos if you are there's the person I'd like you to help, they're name is Attero... oh wait that is you...

Dont diserve freedom yeah whatever mate. I think you missunderstand me. What i mean is that i would feel much safer with a cop watching my back instead of a CCTV camera. It worrys me because these cameras could be used to invade privousy and surely with the thousends they spend on those things surely they could use the money to hire more cops. I mean two on a night shift in my town that is terrible. Oh no thats ok because there some moveing metal eyes everywhere. No i am not partacing in any illegal activity just so you know. Yes six cops could erode freedom but they are real peolpe with real brains. Now shall we say i want to nick a car oh no theres a CCTV camera "Ooooy mate when you bring the crow bar bring the masks theres a CCTV camera over here"

I HOPE IV MADE MY POINT

having security cameras in public will not make you any safer...

there are few operatives for this, many of the cameras in the UK are dud's purely for show to give the impression of security.. criminals know this and continue regardless... if you get mugged by someone and you don't see who does it (as is so often the case) you would rely on the video fottage (poor quality)... so if a mugger uses a mask.... what good is a camera.. we are all heading into a world created by orsen wells.. it is the governments plan to watch and control our every move, by video cameras, and the only way they can do this is with public support. They only way the public will support it is if it is seen to be in their interests, therefore it is possible for the goverment to make society paranoid by using statistics stating that crime is on the increase... but is crime getting any worse? or is a case that the police are not catching as many criminals....

cameras don't make me feel safe one bit... if someone is going to commit a crime, they won't care if a camera catches the back of their head... to be able to prosicute, they would have to prove beyond reasonable doubt that the blurry image at 100 yards with his/her back turned was the criminal in question. By the time the police get there the crime has already been purpertrated... too late the hero..!

CCTV does not work...

I agree with Klepto on this subject totally. Its nice to have somebody on your side

Guys, the times when you could watch the news and see all those terrorist acts "over there" and say to yourself that something should be done about it, but do nothing about it, are gone. We don't live in the safe cozy world where all the bad stuff happened "over there" anymore. That all ended in 2001. Every free nation that enjoys democracy, technology, and freedom is just as much a target (if not more) as any other place in the world these days.

If slapping up a camera on every street corner means some of this can be prevented, so be it. If as a side effect it also cuts down on domestic crime (as it has in Australia) all the better. Australia has freely admitted to being part of the Echelon system since 1999. Australia is as good (if not better) a place as any other modern, free nation on the planet.

Where is the bad part to this again?


On a lighter side... if you'd like to read the rantings of somebody in need of some nice quiet councelling, click here...

I have been a victim of violent crime. Now if these camera's could be offered as a deterrent, I am okay with it. I think that BBC article posted about isnt entirely accurate because the CCTV have been proven to reduce crime in certain areas. All in all, it really depends on how these devices are used. If they can be used ethically then I give them a thumbs up.

Most terrorist bombs ...ect are sucide attacks anyway for them it will probably be more gloryous to die on CCTV.

Shorty,

My second post earlier wasn't directed at you, but at Attero Auctorita. Sorry if you misunderstood me.

I have to agree with you, I would prefer a greater police presence than more cameras. However, police officers can't be everywhere at once, cameras, if used appropriately, would be able to widen their efforts.

Cameras may not be able to arrest people on the spot, but they can help catch or prevent crime happening. There are countless incidents that occur that the criminal has been caught by photographic or video evidence. Also cameras may also be used to detect terrorist activities before loss of life. I don't know how it is in Australia, but the use of cameras has been effective. And if the images are blurry, get better cameras.

As Catherder mentioned, in Australia domestic crime has been reduced just by the presence of cameras. The idea that someone, with authority, could be watching can prevent criminal acts from occuring and make people feel safer.

Kelpto,

How does the government control people's behaviour through cameras? It stops unlawful behaviour, how is that bad?