[Red Moon]

I saw this and thought it would be a good subject to debate. Have read and tell me what you think of Big Brother Britain.

My fears of a Big Brother nation, by police chief

Britain faces an 'Orwellian' future with CCTV cameras on every street corner, a senior policeman has warned.

Ian Readhead, the Deputy Chief Constable of Hampshire Police, said he does not want to live in a Big Brother-style world.

His comments come only days after another senior officer broke ranks to criticise the "surveillance society" which is "eroding" civil liberties.

Mr Readhead questioned the use of CCTV in areas where crime levels are relatively low.

As an example, he cited the small Hampshire town of Stockbridge, where parish councillors have spent £10,000 erecting cameras.

Mr Readhead said: "I'm struggling with seeing the deployment of cameras in our local villages as being a benefit to policing.

"I understand why the local public say this is what we want but I'm really concerned about what happens to the product of these cameras...and what comes next?"

On BBC1's Politics Show yesterday, he added: "If it's in our villages - are

we really moving towards an Orwellian situation where cameras are at every street corner?

"I really don't think that's the kind of country that I want to live in."

Mr Readhead also called for the use of speed cameras to be reviewed and more consideration of why DNA evidence of suspects was kept.

The Government's controversial DNA database contains more than four million samples, including those of 1.1million people who were arrested but never convicted.

He said: "My concern is this - we are in a society at the moment where the police have the power that if they arrest a 15-year-old for a recordable offence we can retain their DNA and their fingerprints for life.

"Is it right that that may impede that person, who's never been arrested again, from getting a job? I'm not sure that sits comfortably with me.

"I don't think the police should be the ones who regulate it and the telling point is - just how powerful do you want your police to be?"

Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Nick Clegg said: "As John Reid pushes for the deployment of talking CCTV cameras barking

instruction at passers-by, it is significant that senior police officers are starting to speak out.

"Something is wrong when police officers, rather than Government ministers, seem more concerned about the protection of our customary British liberties."

Last week, acting Chief Constable of Suffolk Police, Colin Langham-Fitt complained about the lurch towards a surveillance society, and the Government's plans for ID cards.

He said: "There should be debate about the ongoing erosion of civil liberties in the name of the fight against terrorism and the fight against crime.

"Are we all happy to have our cards monitored wherever we go, to be on CCTV and to have our shopping tracked?"

Britain has 20 per cent of the world's CCTV cameras, or an estimated 4.2million - one for every 14 people.

Source:Daily Mail

[Dr43%er]

I have no problems with cctv. I think the ones with loud speakers are a good idea. Stop that, put it down, you are on camera.

[nodisharmony]

There is importance with CCTV and it does make people feel much safer, I must say.

It does make people much more wary about commiting crimes, where CCTV is so obvious.

But there is another side, just like the article points out. Some people don't like having every move people make being recorded on camera and feel like they are experiencing the Big Brother effect.

I am very aware that such information from CCTV is moved on to a third party somewhere in Great Britain.

I will also tell you, that no single person, "except those who work there" are allowed in and only a very small minority who do work there are privy to the billions & trillions of information which gets stored there.

I know about this and you won't believe what power that brings.







nodisharmony

[Sunny_01]

I am with DR here - it doesnt bother me really, I love the idea of it shouting at people "pick your rubbish up you messy toad" and stuff like that

[Captain.Remy]

Message original : Sunny_01
I am with DR here - it doesnt bother me really, I love the idea of it shouting at people "pick your rubbish up you messy toad" and stuff like that

I think this idea is brilliant, we need that in France. Ok all those cameras shocked me when I've been in London, but when we see uour streets which are clean and ours with a lot of papers everywhere, even if people are against that, it's an amazing idea. Then well done guys ! :thumbs:

[GlitterEyes]

I feel it only bothers people who have something to hide.

[Lil-Lindz]

Im not too botered about the CCTV, its not like some weird person is going to be watching you 24 hours a day. You'll be grateful when they catch someone for mugging you or something like that

[Captain.Remy]

Yes, people are annoyed when they are catched, but after all, they have to be nice and threw their papers in the bins...

[Lil-Lindz]

Originally posted by sunshine30
Yes, people are annoyed when they are catched, but after all, they have to be nice and threw their papers in the bins...

Exactly, i dont see why people are complaining about the CCTV, its there for all the right reasons

[andybigbro]

Yes its would be good to stop crimes ..But arent people alou privacy anymore

Geez

[Lil-Lindz]

Originally posted by andybigbro
Yes its would be good to stop crimes ..But arent people alou privacy anymore

Geez

you are allowed privacy its not like someone is watching you all day long
besides i would sooner sacrafice privacy for saftey anyday

[bananarama]

This is a difficult question to decide on. I suppose the answer could be "All things in moderation".

Problem could be if you give our leaders an inch they could eventually take a mile..

It is good to feel the safety factor of CCTV but too much and some may feel an intrusion of privacy nothing to do with wanting to hide something just the basic instinct to know you have privacy

The trend could drift us into a "police state" mentality where all things are watched with remote big brother type voices bellowing out and some have suggested microphones with the CCTV so big brother can hear what we say also.....

Where will the intrusion stop!!!!

We are going to have wardens to report people that smoke in prohibited places (police state mentality) The government encourage people to shop their neighbours and workmated if caught smoking in banned areas.......Smoking is not desirable neither is setting workmate and neighbours against each other. A policy you would have found in communist Russia not so long ago.......

Beware in blindly accepting what governments do as they have no limits to the control they would like to have over people....Polititions afflicted with religion are the most dangerous of them all.........A double wammy of control freakism.....

[spitfire]

Yes where will the intrusion stop!When will smokers stop intuding my lungs?July the 1st is a big start
Id say that smoking in public,i.e in front of my grandchild is a form of attempted murder!
Its a vile habit that harms innocent people.

[bananarama]

You get people with cold and flu virus invading our lungs which could and does kill some people.do we ban them from public places too!!!!!

I am not a smoker and dislike it as much as any none smoker but I do hate police state mentalty that sets neighbours and workmates to shop on each other.Thats ok for when it was and probably in earnest still is communist Russia.......Not for Britain thankyou......Ahhh but its to late high level control freakism is already here.......

[Matt]

CCTV can be a pain. You either like it or loathe it.

I'm cool with it.

[cgimusic]

Originally posted by spitfire
Yes where will the intrusion stop!When will smokers stop intuding my lungs?July the 1st is a big start
Id say that smoking in public,i.e in front of my grandchild is a form of attempted murder!
Its a vile habit that harms innocent people.

The government act as though its "public property" and they own it. If you want a smoke free bar or other place like that then its the owners choice.

[bananarama]

Originally posted by spitfire
Yes where will the intrusion stop!When will smokers stop intuding my lungs?July the 1st is a big start
Id say that smoking in public,i.e in front of my grandchild is a form of attempted murder!
Its a vile habit that harms innocent people.

The Government smoking ban won't protect peoples grandchildren. Quite the oposite. Frustrated smokers who cannot smoke as much at work or play will do more smoking at home in front of their grandchildren. How are the government going to deal with that!!!!!!!


The truth is if the Goverment was serious about smoking and health fears they would have banned the manufacture and sale of cigarettes. They have not. Raising taxes from fags is more important to them than human safety....

[spitfire]

Originally posted by cgimusic

The government act as though its "public property" and they own it. If you want a smoke free bar or other place like that then its the owners choice.

Not from july the 1st it aint.

Originally posted by bananarama

The truth is if the Goverment was serious about smoking and health fears they would have banned the manufacture and sale of cigarettes. They have not. Raising taxes from fags is more important to them than human safety....

I agree with you on that point.