August 13, 2009

Why are we world leaders in CCTV?

Has the time come to ask some tough questions about the proliferation of CCTV cameras in this country? You must have noticed that they seem to be snooping on us everywhere. Wherever you go you can see them on the high street, in shopping centres, at stations and public building, even peering somewhat aimlessly out onto roads and pavements.

It has surely come to the point that there are now so many that they cannot possibly serve any real purpose – other than a vague deterrent or to remind vandals to pull up their hoodies. Despite us living in a country renowned for freedom and tolerance - there are more CCTV cameras in the UK than any other country on earth. Big Brother is alive and well in the UK!

The other day I was rather intrigued to see there is now a CCTV system installed in our local pub. There is one peering menacingly across the car park – but as far as I can see none in the pub itself and (hopefully) none in the gents. What on earth can the point be? It seems to be puerile voyeurism gone mad.

I suppose all those cameras on stations can identify would be terrorists and other criminals (usually long after they have done their nefarious crimes). But do we really value our privacy so little that we are prepared to be filmed dozens if not hundreds of times a day as we all go about our everyday business?

The local shopping centre has a CCTV system in place. I suspect they all do. But here’s the thing – as I was peering up at a camera I noticed it move. Now I am not suggesting for one moment I am photogenic… but it suggests that occasionally there are people operating these things… maybe zooming in on an attractive girl or bloke. It all seems really rather sordid and seedy.

Does having all these CCTV cameras watching us actually work? Usually a there is somebody in the police who can be wheeled out to suggest they are a good thing. But we need to remember that they also think speed cameras (sorry neighbourhood safety cameras) are a good thing. Rather tellingly a Home Office report is, shall we say, a little bit ambivalent on the subject.

The key point is just how ineffectual they are at stopping crime… and worst of all how many of those awful, cheap television shows they provide footage for. One way or another I can’t help thinking CCTV cameras are at best pointless and at worst a genuine intrusion in our privacy. It’s a pity we as a nation are so tolerant of the damn things.