I shall paste the content of the link's article below in case it changes or is moved. Anything in italics (in this blog entry only) is from this BBC article entitled “'Talking' CCTV scheme expanding.”Firstly, a question: does anyone remember what “1984” by George Orwell was about?
Does anyone care that the slowly, slowly catchy monkey approach of introducing CCTV cameras into UK means we are now the most watch country by camera surveillance in just in Europe, but the World?
There are around 4.2 million CCTV cameras in Britain.
Written while Orwell was dying and based on the work of the Russian author Yevgeny Zamyatin, it is a chilling depiction of how the power of the state could come to dominate the lives of individuals through cultural conditioning.Perhaps the most powerful science fiction novel of the twentieth century, this apocalyptic satire shows with grim conviction how Winston Smith’s individual personality is wiped out and how he is recreated in the Party's image until he does not just obey but even loves Big Brother. Despite the critics, Orwell maintained that the book was written with the explicit intention to alter other people's idea of the kind of society they should strive after.
“'Talking' CCTV scheme expanding”
Dated: Wednesday, 4 April 2007, 07:38 GMT 08:38 UK
"Talking" CCTV cameras that tell off people dropping litter or committing anti-social behaviour are to be installed in 20 areas across England. They are already used in Middlesbrough where anyone seen misbehaving can be told via a loudspeaker, controlled by control centre staff, to stop. Home Secretary John Reid has earmarked nearly £500,000 to fund the expansion.
Critics say the cameras are absurd and another example of excessive government intrusion into everyday life.Mr Reid said they were aimed at "the small minority" who "litter our streets, vandalise our communities and damage our properties “We all pay council tax so, in the end, we all pay when our communities are disrespected - both in our pockets as well as in our daily lives," he said.
The Home Secretary also said competitions were being held at schools in many of the areas for children to become the voice of the cameras. "By funding and supporting these local schemes, the government is encouraging children to send this clear message to grown ups - act anti-socially and you will face the shame of being publicly embarrassed," Mr Reid added.
The home secretary also told GMTV that the scheme was "hugely popular" in Middlesbrough and that "the vast majority of the people here are right behind it".
He said: "It helps counter things like litter through drunk or disorderly behaviour, gangs congregating. "They are the sorts of things that make people's lives a misery. Anything that tackles that is better. "We want more police officers and we want more neighbourhood policing. There are always people who will claim when we do that it's a police society. It isn't. It's a society where the vast majority of law-abiding citizens are doing their utmost to respect each other."
The talking cameras will be installed in Southwark, in London, Barking and Dagenham, in London, Reading, Thanet, Harlow, Norwich, Ipswich, Plymouth, Gloucester, Derby, Northampton, Mansfield, Nottingham, Coventry, Sandwell, Wirral, Blackpool, Salford, South Tyneside and Darlington.
'Safer town centre'
In Middlesbrough, staff in a control centre monitor pictures from 12 talking cameras and can communicate directly with people on the street. Local councillor Barry Coppinger says the scheme has prevented fights and criminal damage and cut litter levels. "Generally, I think it has raised awareness that the town centre is a safe place to visit and also that we are keeping an eye open to make sure it is safe," he said.
But opponent and campaigner Steve Hills said: "Apart from being absurd, I think it's rather sad that we should have faceless cameras barking at us on orders from who? Who sets these cameras up?"
'Safer town centre'
In Middlesbrough, staff in a control centre monitor pictures from 12 talking cameras and can communicate directly with people on the street. Local councillor Barry Coppinger says the scheme has prevented fights and criminal damage and cut litter levels. "Generally, I think it has raised awareness that the town centre is a safe place to visit and also that we are keeping an eye open to make sure it is safe," he said.
But opponent and campaigner Steve Hills said: "Apart from being absurd, I think it's rather sad that we should have faceless cameras barking at us on orders from who? Who sets these cameras up?"
There are an estimated 4.2 million CCTV cameras in Britain. A recent study by the government's privacy watchdog, the Information Commissioner, warned that Britain was becoming a "surveillance society".
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