rastamasta
20-05-2007, 02:34 PM
British police officer challenges CCTV proliferation
The Associated Press
LONDON: The army of CCTV cameras that keep watch over Britain risk turning the country into an "Orwellian" society, a senior police officer warned Sunday.
Ian Readhead, the deputy chief constable of the Hampshire Police, said he was especially worried about the installation of cameras in areas with relatively low crime levels.
"I'm really concerned about what happens to the product of these cameras, and what comes next," Readhead told British Broadcasting Corp. television.
"If it's in our villages, are we really moving toward an Orwellian situation where cameras are at every street corner?" he said. "I really don't think that's the kind of country that I want to live in."
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/05/20/europe/EU-GEN-Britain-Surveillance-Society.php
Police chief slams 'Orwellian' CCTV
Mr Readhead also called for the use of speed cameras to be reviewed, and more consideration of why DNA was kept.
There are an estimated 4.2 million CCTV cameras in the UK - one for every 14 people.
Information Commissioner Richard Thomas has raised concerns about Britain "sleepwalking into a surveillance society", with more cameras on the street and extensive monitoring of consumer behaviour.
However, supporters say CCTV is a crucial tool in deterring crime and catching criminals, and the innocent have nothing to fear.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uklatest/story/0,,-6647012,00.html
Are we living in a "Big Brother" society?
Fighting crime or invading our privacy? Are our lives dominated by CCTV?
A senior police officer has warned that we are in danger of becoming an "Orwellian" society, as a result of growing electronic surveillance.
In an interview with the BBC's Politics Show, the deputy chief constable of Hampshire Ian Readhead questioned the use of CCTV cameras in small towns and villages where crime rates were low.
Mr Readhead also called for the retention of some DNA evidence and the use of speed cameras to be reviewed.
Do you agree that Britain could become a surveillance society? Are too much of our lives monitored by CCTV? Is this eroding civil liberties or helping to tackle crime?
http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?sortBy=2&threadID=6384&edition=1&ttl=20070520133339&#paginator
The Associated Press
LONDON: The army of CCTV cameras that keep watch over Britain risk turning the country into an "Orwellian" society, a senior police officer warned Sunday.
Ian Readhead, the deputy chief constable of the Hampshire Police, said he was especially worried about the installation of cameras in areas with relatively low crime levels.
"I'm really concerned about what happens to the product of these cameras, and what comes next," Readhead told British Broadcasting Corp. television.
"If it's in our villages, are we really moving toward an Orwellian situation where cameras are at every street corner?" he said. "I really don't think that's the kind of country that I want to live in."
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/05/20/europe/EU-GEN-Britain-Surveillance-Society.php
Police chief slams 'Orwellian' CCTV
Mr Readhead also called for the use of speed cameras to be reviewed, and more consideration of why DNA was kept.
There are an estimated 4.2 million CCTV cameras in the UK - one for every 14 people.
Information Commissioner Richard Thomas has raised concerns about Britain "sleepwalking into a surveillance society", with more cameras on the street and extensive monitoring of consumer behaviour.
However, supporters say CCTV is a crucial tool in deterring crime and catching criminals, and the innocent have nothing to fear.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uklatest/story/0,,-6647012,00.html
Are we living in a "Big Brother" society?
Fighting crime or invading our privacy? Are our lives dominated by CCTV?
A senior police officer has warned that we are in danger of becoming an "Orwellian" society, as a result of growing electronic surveillance.
In an interview with the BBC's Politics Show, the deputy chief constable of Hampshire Ian Readhead questioned the use of CCTV cameras in small towns and villages where crime rates were low.
Mr Readhead also called for the retention of some DNA evidence and the use of speed cameras to be reviewed.
Do you agree that Britain could become a surveillance society? Are too much of our lives monitored by CCTV? Is this eroding civil liberties or helping to tackle crime?
http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?sortBy=2&threadID=6384&edition=1&ttl=20070520133339&#paginator