Forum Topic

CCTV SURVEY - are you worried about council surveillance?

There is a national consultation on cctv surveillance by councilshttps://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/draft-national-surveillance-camera-strategy-for-england-and-wales

N Robinson ● 3094d10 Comments

Whilst it may not reduce crime, it probably goes a long way to leading to a successful prosecution of any wrong doings.

Lee Page ● 3093d

Britain has the most cameras per head of population in the world.  Statistic do not show crime reduction when cameras are present, we feel safer because we feel it does reduce crime.  If you talk to the police they tell you something different and that the best deterrent are bobbies on the beat.

Ewa Cwirko-Godycka ● 3093d

The Alice Gross case linked CCTV footage from a number of sources. Yes, some were grainy in quality however, combined painted an overall picture of his location. You are correct Keith when you mention about a hoodie or scarf masking a face, but a clothing description is sometimes as personal as a tattoo and when broadcast allows police to target a potential crook. We would all love to see more police on our streets however a sad fact of our modern day are budget cuts, therefore working in partnership with the likes of CCTV to spread that burden and target the available resources to a specific location is deemed more effective.

Kris Smith ● 3094d

I totally agree. The more the better. About half the Ealing Russian and Ukrainian mafia left South Ealing when the camera went up above the Co-op in South Ealing. I would like to see an extra camera on the junction of Popes Lane and South Ealing Road to get rid of the other half and the local drug dealers that hang around the bar. A truly excellent deterrent.

John Murias ● 3094d

& I agree with Mr Iddon - actually on many of his opinions, hats off to him. A visible bobby on beat deterrent,policing, people not machines as in banks/supermarkets/stations etc etc but thats another topic.Its not just about saving money its safety

Peter Yale ● 3094d

I would like to see the evidence for what you claim Kris. Footage is often so grainy and dark that it is useless many of the cameras and the gubbins wot goes with them are out of the ark. They are also useless against a hoodie/scarf etc. I have no objection to them if they are effective but I think more of a police presence used in conjunction with clear cctv is the best deterrent of crime. They seem to have been used to a large extent to  replace bobbies imo.

Keith Iddon ● 3094d

Totally agree, Kris. They can even film me picking my nose.

Susan Kelly ● 3094d

Council CCTV greatly assists with the prevention and detection of crime. CCTV would have played a major part in identifying the suspect involved in the unfortunate Halloween violence at McDonalds in Ealing Broadway, it also lead investigators to the Alice Gross' murderer.  On a smaller scale CCTV also assists in catching fly tippers. I have no issues with a CCTV camera filming me in the High Street for a few seconds while I walk past it.

Kris Smith ● 3094d

theres an arguement that if you are doing nothing wrong you have nothing to worry about, which I tend to agree with. In my view though & which I object to, is the use for a backdoor tax such as parking fines.The amount of revenue raised for some derisory offence from a covert camera is sickening

Peter Yale ● 3094d

The last I heard they could not afford to pay someone to monitor the cameras.I installed my own cameras because of repeated attempts to break into my house, vandalize vehicles, and in one case setting fire to a car and completely writing it off.

Christopher Bell ● 3094d