Being Watched: More Than You Think

Britain is one of the most watched countries in the world. In 2006 it was reported that more that 4 Million CCTV cameras were in operation in the UK.

That is one CCTV camera per 14 people, with those living in cities being caught on camera around 300 times per day. There are no more recent statistics, but the number is sure to risen.

Its a potentially huge amount of data, if these cameras had the technology to scan and locate individuals automatically. Luckily they cant do this whilst we are walking down the street (yet).

However seemingly unannounced, at network of intelligent CCTV cameras has been installed across the nations roads, that reads and logs every car number plate using the road. Its then cross referenced with police records and the DVLA database, checking weather the vehicle has insurance, tax and weather it is reported stolen. Any offenders are instantly flagged up, and will be shortly followed by a police vehicle to make the appropriate arrests.

Now if you are a police officer this must seem like a dream come true. But for the general public, this could be a nightmare. This system logs every time your car drives past one of these cameras, and it is stored in a database for 2 years.

The system has already seen a 40% rise in convictions. Hardly surprising given the amount of information they now have at their disposal. But this just doesn’t seem right to me. Surely the public should have had a say on this. How is it regulated? How makes sure that the information is safe. We sure cant depend of the government to keep it safe. No one has forgotten the catalogue of massive security errors and loss of personal details that they made last year.

The Government have just missed the point, again. Sure are getting more convictions of crime, and stuffing more people into our ever crowded jails. But that is not fixing our broken society. Instead of focusing on convicting criminals, we should be working to stop the causes of crime, and start preventing it.