Do you think Britain should have more, less or the same amount of CCTV cameras on the streets?
I know Britain has the most in the world but I personally think more would be a good idea. I do not understand the arguments against it. I mean, if you have nothing to hide then it should be fine, shouldn’t it? Some argue that it might turn into a nationwide big brother, but it’s not as though these cameras have an effect on our lives, unless we have done something wrong. They are certainly not restricting our lives, or in control of them.
However, most people seem to disagree with me
What are your thoughts?
The problem I’ve had with CCTV while living in Britain is that they sink money into them, but don’t always maintain them or have them in the right areas, so you’re pouring money into something that may not work all that well, compared to other things you could be using that money for that may work better, like more cops on the street. Also, even if you catch a crime on CCTV that’s no assurance you will be able to track down whomever did it, also defeating the purpose of the camera.
For example, I was walking down a Cardiff neighborhood where my girlfriend lived and I saw all these signs that said ” CCTV in progress ect ect” so I thought oh ok better not pee in that alley then ( I really really had to go but had no access to a bathroom anywhere close by)then my ipod got stole out of my bag in the same exact spot. I went to the police station and the desk lady was like ” Oh, well we don’t have any CCTV in that area, and the surrounding ones aren’t maintained enough or are broken.”
Hence CCTV made a law abiding person like me uncomfortable and didn’t help catch the person who stole my stuff. I think it’s just a matter of personal pride. Sure, scratching your butt is not illegal, but you don’t want people to know you do it, and if the camera’s not helping catch that many criminals anyway, while pour more resources into it when you’re the one it’s making uncomfortable.
October 29th, 2008 at 8:45 am
It’s an issue of privacy. If the government can constantly “watch” you then what will they be able to do next.
References :
October 29th, 2008 at 8:55 am
Unless they are watching a bank or prison yard or some area like that they should not be there. People should go out and rip down all the public cameras, after all it was the peoples money that funded them.
References :
Something is always happening, but when it happens, people don’t always see it, or understand it, or accept it.
October 29th, 2008 at 9:22 am
The problem I’ve had with CCTV while living in Britain is that they sink money into them, but don’t always maintain them or have them in the right areas, so you’re pouring money into something that may not work all that well, compared to other things you could be using that money for that may work better, like more cops on the street. Also, even if you catch a crime on CCTV that’s no assurance you will be able to track down whomever did it, also defeating the purpose of the camera.
For example, I was walking down a Cardiff neighborhood where my girlfriend lived and I saw all these signs that said ” CCTV in progress ect ect” so I thought oh ok better not pee in that alley then ( I really really had to go but had no access to a bathroom anywhere close by)then my ipod got stole out of my bag in the same exact spot. I went to the police station and the desk lady was like ” Oh, well we don’t have any CCTV in that area, and the surrounding ones aren’t maintained enough or are broken.”
Hence CCTV made a law abiding person like me uncomfortable and didn’t help catch the person who stole my stuff. I think it’s just a matter of personal pride. Sure, scratching your butt is not illegal, but you don’t want people to know you do it, and if the camera’s not helping catch that many criminals anyway, while pour more resources into it when you’re the one it’s making uncomfortable.
References :
Cardiff Police department, personal experience