Talking surveillance cameras pepper British streets - big brother is now here

Big Brother is not only watching you - now he's barking orders too. Britain's first 'talking' CCTV cameras have arrived, publicly berating bad behaviour and shaming offenders into acting more responsibly.

The system allows control room operators who spot any anti-social acts - from dropping litter to late-night brawls - to send out a verbal warning: 'We are watching you'.

Middlesbrough has fitted loudspeakers on seven of its 158 cameras in an experiment already being hailed as a success. Jack Bonner, who manages the system, said: 'It is one hell of a deterrent. It's one thing to know that there are CCTV cameras about, but it's quite another when they loudly point out what you have just done wrong.

'Most people are so ashamed and embarrassed at being caught they quickly slink off without further trouble.

'There was one incident when two men started fighting outside a nightclub. One of the control room operators warned them over the loudspeakers and they looked up, startled, stopped fighting and scarpered in opposite directions.

'This isn't about keeping tabs on people, it's about making the streets safer for the law-abiding majority and helping to change the attitudes of those who cause trouble. It challenges unacceptable behaviour and makes people think twice.' STORY CONTINUED AT SOURCE

-------------------

How do you guys feel about this?

I'm appalled that they've let this happen. Sure it's one thing to intrude on people by monitoring their every move via video surveillance, but to now have an anonymous voice tell you what to do over loudspeaker? WTF!!

"'This isn't about keeping tabs on people, it's about making the streets safer for the law-abiding majority" They've got to be joking. It's all about keeping tabs on people and controling their behaviour.

Further along in the article they state "'But Middlesbrough does have a big problem with anti-social behaviour, so it is very reassuring." So the way to cure anti social behavior is to have anonymous voices telling you what to do in public?

Would any of you find it intrusive if you had an interaction like this? What are your thoughts?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Squirt

Middlesbrough

---

LOL that one word just about sums it all up right there ;)

For anyone that knows Middlesborough, they will know that it is comparable to some of the UK's most notorious crime spots in fact, i would even go as far as saying its worse than some of them such as Moss Side in Manchester and some of the err, less fortunate places in Liverpool and London.

Regards,

Lee

i think it's fucking creepy. people need their anti-social behaviors and the anononymous voice thing is awful and leaves a lot of room for police playing horrible practical jokes, as well.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Lee

LOL that one word just about sums it all up right there ;)

For anyone that knows Middlesborough, they will know that it is comparable to some of the UK's most notorious crime spots in fact, i would even go as far as saying its worse than some of them such as Moss Side in Manchester and some of the err, less fortunate places in Liverpool and London.

Regards,

Lee

---

Does it matter how bad the neighborhood is?

If people are angry and anti social the last thing they need is an anonymous speaker telling them what to do lol

This is typical of how things are controlled. They're doing this in the adult industry as well... start off with the worst, and work your way up. Of course most wont disagree with monitoring and telling people what to do in the ghetto, then they will spread out and take it further. The article states that if it works in the city they have plans to extend it to the suburbs. And just like in 1984, soon enough they will tell people we need them to protect us from ourselves. What do you think? Isn't this a slippery slope?