Big Brother barks? UK Govt unveils shouting CCTV cameras
Pastor Dale Morgan
Big Brother barks? UK Govt unveils shouting CCTV cameras *
Apr 4 04:30 AM US/Eastern
Talking" closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras which allow operators
to shout at people behaving badly are to be installed across England,
the government announced Wednesday.
The scheme lets local council workers in a control centre monitor
pictures from the cameras and talk to them if they feel they are doing
something wrong.
The cameras were piloted in Middlesbrough, north-east England, where
they have been used to reprimand vandals and litter bugs, but now
loudspeakers are being fitted to cameras in another 20 areas.
Britain has some 4.2 million CCTV cameras and the government's privacy
watchdog, Information Commissioner Richard Thomas, warned last year that
the nation risks "sleep-walking into a surveillance society".
Human rights group Privacy International says Britain is the worst
country in the European Union at protecting individuals' privacy, citing
"endemic surveillance".
And a powerful group of lawmakers -- the House of Commons home affairs
select committee -- is to hold an inquiry into the extent of
surveillance in Britain this year.
The "talking CCTV" move comes as Prime Minister Tony Blair's
administration attempts to impose a "respect agenda" by cracking down on
petty anti-social behaviour.
Home Secretary John Reid defended the scheme, saying it was aimed at
"the small minority who think it is acceptable to litter our streets,
vandalise our communities and damage our properties."
Reid added that schools in many areas were holding competitions for
children to become the "voice" of CCTV cameras.
The scheme is likely to cost around 500,000 pounds (740,000 euros,
988,000 dollars).