World

UK CCTV use called 'an utter fiasco'

by infomatique | May 6, 2008 at 03:37 pm

393 views | 10 Recommendations | 2 comments

Fortunately, it is not nearly as bad here in Ireland (yet) ... how is it where you live?

I am often asked to cease taking photographs but no one asks for my permission to be videoed (I am referring to street facing cameras) as I walk along the public footpath.

Britain's network of security cameras has been 'an utter fiasco', failing to cut crime despite billions of pounds being spent on it, a senior detective was quoted as saying on Tuesday.

The UK has the most surveillance in the world, according to civil liberty groups and security experts, with an estimated 4.2m closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras on buildings, shops, roads and stations.

But the Guardian newspaper reported Detective Chief Inspector Mick Neville of London police as saying that only 3% of the capital's street robberies are solved using CCTV footage and criminals are not afraid of being caught on camera.

0 See all footage | View Slideshow

Share: email story | add to any | | facebook | stumbleupon

recommend This comment thread is now closed

Amy Judd

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 15:50 on May 6th, 2008

infomatique, I like this story. It's good stuff.

Vancouver doesn't really have CCTV - not to the extent that London does anyway! I always feel like I am being watched in London, because you're never out of sight of a camera!

cynthia yoo

at 16:53 on May 6th, 2008

I think there were some plans to install CCTV on Vancouver's Granville st. area (the main bar/club hangout)...but certainly nothing like London's CCTV network.