Street louts tamed by talking CCTV
Street louts tamed by talking CCTV
From the print edition of thelondonpaper
Big Brother-style talking CCTV cameras which bark orders at louts could be on the way to our streets after a successful pilot scheme in the North of England.
The high-tech surveillance gear has been trialled in Middlesbrough, where loudspeakers have been fitted to seven of the town centre’s 160 cameras.
And Richard Barnes, Metropolitan Police Authority and London Assembly member, said that he would be pressing to see the cameras tested in the capital. He said: “It is quite Big Brother but anything that helps stop anti-social behaviour is good. I think it would be successful in tackling low-level crime that affects our quality of life, such as dropping litter and destroying property.”
The technology allows CCTV control room operators who spot misbehaviour to embarrass wrongdoers by announcing: “You are being watched” or even caution them of police action.
Middlesbrough has one of the most comprehensive CCTV networks in the UK. In 2005 it was responsible for helping to net 678 offences.
Barry Coppinger, Middlesbrough’s executive member for community safety, said: “CCTV’s role in making Middlesbrough safer is now accepted. This added facility makes it more effective.”
But while the system has be hailed as a great success, Barnes believes it should not be used as a alternative to policing. He says: “In terms of more serious crime what you need is police presence, not someone shouting orders.”
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