Big Brother and the CCTV camera next door

 

Here are a few more thoughts and questions about cameras in Broadgate and elsewhere.

 

I grew up before 1984, and read Orwell's book at school. Not surprisingly I hate the idea of Big Brother watching you, (or for that matter of watching Big Brother on TV!). I leved through 1984 and if you remember that was the year of the miners' strike when the forces of the state brutally crushed the communities that were fighting for their livelihoods. So from a personal point of view I'm very hostile to the idea of the police or government watching you and me all the time and the fact that we are the most observed society in the world. I just don't trust that those in control of the cameras will only use them to protect the public from crime and terrorism. And as far as I'm concerned the same goes for fingerprinting, DNA registers and ID cards. 

 

In particular I hate the fact that there is a CCTV camera on my next door neighbour's house watching me every time I take the dog across the road to do his business. No wonder I always carry a pooper scooper and use it when necessary. I've actually asked politely three times now to have this camera removed, but to no effect, as neither the police, nor BRAG nor my neighbour seems to be taking responsibility for it. I understand I have a right to see all the pictures that have been taken of me, and I wonder what would happen if I made a serious formal request.

 

I can understand why in some circumstances such as in shops, or stations or public buildings people think security cameras are necessary to help fight crime. But I'm not really convinced they are much help in normal residential streets. People say the presence of cameras deters crime, people wont risk doing something naughty if they are going to be caught. The first flaw in this is that it will only work if there is a really big obvious notice that "You are being watched on camera". As far as BRAG's cameras are concerned they are not obvious at all and may in fact be illegal without clear signage.

 

The second flaw is that if criminals know they are there it is still easy enough to move down the street to do their evil work. Or simply to wear a balaclava or a hoodie pulled up. Chances are that on a dark night the offender is not going to be recognised. Furthermore as most offences seem to involve drink, drugs or a raging temper the rational fear of being caught does not work too well for most cases. All we can hope for is to catch and convict them afterwards.

 

The final and worse flaw is that if we feel we need cameras in quiet residential streets this will simply raise everyone's fear of crime beyond sensible caution to panic levels. As a result even more people don't go out on the streets after dark. One result of this is that with no one around, empty streets more easily become the territory of anti-social elements who can more easily take control of a turf and really make it unsafe for ordinary folk young and old alike. It would be far better if the whole community spent more time hanging around on street corners passing the time of day.

 

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