What's wrong with CCTV?

[HAL9000]

In the video I linked to earlier in the thread, Corbett asserts that on the morning of those attacks, 75 of 76 cameras mysteriously malfunctioned for the most important 20 minutes before the bombing occurred. I'm not overly familiar with the bombing myself, but if that is true, then how did they really help in that case?

Well that sucks.

That being said they really did help. They had identified who each of those responsible were that day, from the CCTV cameras that were working.

 

[skyking]

Having driven in the UK, I have to say the average speed cams in construction zones is a very effective way to save lives.
Think about the alternatives. Post some officers there with radar in a narrow and congested area, speeders slow down suddenly, officers have to pull out and attempt to ticket them in the same dangerous and congested area. All of that will lead to a rise in accidents. That is totally non-productive and increases the danger to the workers and public.
I was "let go" once by an overpass ticket truck. I was cooking right along in the North heading into Scotland, but for whatever reason I did not get an infraction. I slowed down after that, but those nicer motorways sure are tempting

 

[HAL9000]

Having driven in the UK, I have to say the average speed cams in construction zones is a very effective way to save lives.
Think about the alternatives. Post some officers there with radar in a narrow and congested area, speeders slow down suddenly, officers have to pull out and attempt to ticket them in the same dangerous and congested area. All of that will lead to a rise in accidents. That is totally non-productive and increases the danger to the workers and public.
I was "let go" once by an overpass ticket truck. I was cooking right along in the North heading into Scotland, but for whatever reason I did not get an infraction. I slowed down after that, but those nicer motorways sure are tempting

You may not have received any points, because if you didn't live in the UK they'd have no address to send the points to. But aside from that, I'm not the biggest fan of average speed cameras, however when they are up, they do work. Everyone slows down a lot.

 

[skyking]

You may not have received any points, because if you didn't live in the UK they'd have no address to send the points to. But aside from that, I'm not the biggest fan of average speed cameras, however when they are up, they do work. Everyone slows down a lot.

I was assured they would send a ticket to the rental car agency. That agency then sends me the bill.

 

[HAL9000]

I was assured they would send a ticket to the rental car agency. That agency then sends me the bill.

Possibly. But it's not always a bill..

 

[skyking]

AHh, that is the difference. In the US there is always a bill unless you get a simple warning.

 

[HAL9000]

AHh, that is the difference. In the US there is always a bill unless you get a simple warning.

Fair do's.

 

[HAL9000]

Bumping to restart discussion, people are still mentioning CCTV as some huge negative about the UK, and I'm still curious why.

 

[matt0611]

Bumping to restart discussion, people are still mentioning CCTV as some huge negative about the UK, and I'm still curious why.

Because most people don't want the people in government monitoring all of our activity? Its a slippery slope. Its intrusive. Its straight out of dystopian future science fiction.

What's so hard to understand?

 

[HAL9000]

Because most people don't want the people in government monitoring all of our activity? Its a slippery slope. Its intrusive. Its straight out of dystopian future science fiction.

What's so hard to understand?

The thing is they are not monitoring all of our activity, they aren't paying attention to you when you go into Starbucks, but when you rob a bank they pay attention, there isn't some big file somewhere with "what xxx did during the day" put into it.

It's also not intrusive in public places, you have no expectation of privacy...?

 

[matt0611]

The thing is they are not monitoring all of our activity, they aren't paying attention to you when you go into Starbucks, but when you rob a bank they pay attention, there isn't some big file somewhere with "what xxx did during the day" put into it.

It's also not intrusive in public places, you have no expectation of privacy...?

They're not monitoring all of your activity, because that would just be impossible, but they could monitor you if they wanted to no?
It leaves things open for abuse and for more intrusions.

Just my personal preference, I don't want our government doing it.
If you feel better with it, then fine.

 

[DirkGently1]

In the UK the Police use cameras to help protect the public. In the USA the public use cameras to protect themselves from the police.

 

[matt0611]

In the UK the Police use cameras to help protect the public. In the USA the public use cameras to protect themselves from the police.

Of course, we should all just trust our benevolent and wise overlords to not abuse any power they have, history has shown that they have been great stewards of it! After all, its only for our own "protection".

 

[soulcougher73]

Im fine with CCTV. It helps catch and identify criminals that are commiting crimes. It is not entened to catch them in the act. That would be near impossible to react and prevent it anyways even if you did see it about to go down.

 

[guyver01]

looks like the brits weren't so happy about cctv.. despite the "love" hal seems to show

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3225985/t/smile-youre-being-watched/

Instead, there’s an overwhelming feeling that too often surveillance is used not to make the country safer but to monitor innocent people and, in the case of speed cams, raise much-needed tax revenues. “There’s this notion starting to build in countries around the world that maybe we’ve been conned — that these ‘security measures’ are smoke and mirrors,” says Simon Davies, director of London-based advocacy group Privacy International. “People here are demanding a proper threat assessment. It’s one area where Europe leads the trend.”

 

[guyver01]

http://www.mindsetcentral.com/archives/487

Although the UK is bathed in CCTV coverage, statistics show that this has not affected the crime rate of the country in the slightest, and that crime prevention is apparently the main reason for the existence of these cameras ( at least that is what we are told).

 

[HAL9000]

They're not monitoring all of your activity, because that would just be impossible, but they could monitor you if they wanted to no?
It leaves things open for abuse and for more intrusions.

Just my personal preference, I don't want our government doing it.
If you feel better with it, then fine.

What would the upside to using it that way be? Why would the devote the money / man hours?

In the UK the Police use cameras to help protect the public. In the USA the public use cameras to protect themselves from the police.

That sounds scary.

looks like the brits weren't so happy about cctv.. despite the "love" hal seems to show

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3225985/t/smile-youre-being-watched/

I'm not saying I represent the view everyone holds, that would be stupid.

 

[Infohawk]

http://www.mindsetcentral.com/archives/487

I followed the link but it doesn't seem very authoritative...

 

[HAL9000]

I followed the link but it doesn't seem very authoritative...

That's because it's written by a fool.

 

[RabidMongoose]

http://www.mindsetcentral.com/archives/487

Crime prevention is what they want the British peasants to think is the reason why the peasants must have their every move recorded. The real reason is that it's a form of control over the peasants. It makes them have a low self esteem, little backbone. They have become more easily controllable.

 

[HAL9000]

Crime prevention is what they want the British peasants to think is the reason why the peasants must have their every move recorded. The real reason is that it's a form of control over the peasants. It makes them have a low self esteem, little backbone. They have become more easily controllable.

 

[RabidMongoose]

You were probably being recorded posting that image to this forum.

 

[guyver01]

That's because it's written by a fool.

:hmm:

i didn't realize you were the author.

 

[BeauJangles]

edit: really not relevant

 

[HAL9000]

You were probably being recorded posting that image to this forum.

I wasn't.

:hmm:

i didn't realize you were the author.

You don't know alot about me.

I'm not a fan of CCTV, but I'm always surprised that Americans can be so outraged by CCTV, but say little to nothing about what the NSA has been up to over the last decade.

Agreed. I find that people think in america that the government are watching them every minute.