UK: A camera for every 14 people

[45th Med]

More than four million surveillance cameras monitor our every move, making Britain the most-watched nation in the world, research has revealed.

The number of closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras has quadrupled in the past three years, and there is now one for every 14 people in the UK. The increase is happening at twice the predicted rate, and it is believed that Britain accounts for one-fifth of all CCTV cameras worldwide. Estimates suggest that residents of a city such as London can each expect to be captured on CCTV cameras up to 300 times a day, and much of the filming breaches existing data guidelines.

4 Million surveillance cameras monitor UK public

[cprise]

1. All on Blair's watch

.

[PartyPooper]

2. A$$kroft's wet dream!

I can't even fathom the cost or the infrastructure to support a 14:1 ratio of cameras in the U.S.. It's mind-boggling! Simply mind-boggling!

:eyes:

[madrchsod]

3. they found that traffic accidents

are on the increase because of the cuts in real people and reliance on cameras to "patrol" the roadways..

[AP]

4. They solve almost every major crime in the UK.

Remember the footage of that little kid abducted by the two older kids? There was also a serial prostitute murderer in Glasgow who was caught thanks to these cameras.

The problem isn't when the cameras are turned on public streets. It's when the turn them around into people's windows, or when, in shops, they use them to look at women shoppers rather than look for crimes.

This is a fascinating complicated issue. I'm not saying I'm all for cameras. But I will say that it's remarkable how successful the police are in the UK (and cameras are part of their success). The traffic cameras are another matter. They're great for catching people blowing off stop signs and red lights. A little annoying with speeding though.

[Moderator]

5. Not LBN... locking

This is an interesting story, but doesn't really qualify as Latest Breaking News.

Please feel free to repost this article in the General Discussion Forum.

Thanks!

DU Moderator