Two press releases have appeared on the Council’s web site rather late in the day and I wonder why? The first concerns Community Wardens, who are to be equipped with small cameras on their shoulders which will be able to record anti social behaviour. The second concerns the placing of talking CCTV cameras in South Shields town centre based on the type used in Middlesbrough.
Despite the costs involved (the small cameras used by the wardens cost £900) this is nothing short of an attack on personal liberties. Such intrusions are now becoming frightening both in their potential application and to the degree that they can infiltrate into your private life. I often have conversations with my community beat wardens, some of them not as “guarded” as they should be especially when talking about our local wags (not that East Boldon is a hot bed of crime). But this is an essential part of community policing and information gathering and it often involves stopping crimes before they happen. I shall now be more aware of what we talk about in case I’m being recorded. I have no doubt that innocent people will be caught up in this ridiculous march towards a Big Brother society. It’s bad enough having it on the telly without having it govern your life!
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