here in the UK we are the most monitored country in the world, But it has been proven that cctv does not deter crime merely moves the problem elsewhere! It is simply being used to monitor people going about their business legitimately. It is time people fought back . Also from a railway point of view rail enthusiasts have been abused and cameras confiscated on the pretense of "Terrorist" activity This was stopped after a vociferous campaign in the railway and national press as an infringement of rights and led to British Transport police issuing guidelines
http://www.btp.police.uk/advice_and_information/travelling_safely/rail_enthusiasts.aspx[/QUOTE]
It may well be that we are the most monitored country in the world when it comes to CCTV cameras but there are many of us here in the UK that are not too upset about that. Recent figures show that violent crime has fallen substantially in the last few years and that is undoubtedly due to the surveillance cameras having a deterrent effect on those who may wish to mug and assault others for reasons of theft or just for the pure hell of it.
But there is also a more serious reason for having CCTV cameras in abundance than even the above if that were not enough. Britain has been a victim of terrorist threat and assault which has been sustained over the last 30 years. The 7/7 London Underground bombings are proof enough that those involved in planning terrorism often have the rail system in mind as an object as stations and trains are seen as “good targets” when someone feels the need to cause the maiming and deaths of as many as possible.
As someone who travels by rail in the course of his work substantially throughout the UK I am only too glad to see the British transport police questioning and removing those wishing to photograph railway infrastructure and equipment from stations. As I stated in a different thread on this forum a week or two ago, a group of us as passengers waiting at Liverpool lime Street station witnessed the transport police aggressively interrogate several so-called rail fans (or train spotters as they used to be known) for photographing what appeared to be the signalling equipment and other infrastructure from the end of a platform. They were then removed from the station following the altercation (whatever the police advice may say) and that is the second time I have seen such action by the police over the course of the last few months.
CCTV cameras have proved invaluable in apprehending and as proof in court so often in recent times that in my view the more we have the better. Only a week or so ago some subhuman was apprehended on the basis of CCTV images when he snatched an 84-year-old woman’s handbag and this was shown on the national and local news as they appealed for anyone who may have known the criminal.
With CCTV, If you had nothing to hide you have nothing to fear and if it keeps the violent crime figures going down and acts as a deterrent to those wishing to cause havoc and death on the British public transport system then let’s double the number of these cameras that are available to those whose job it is to protect the public from the scum who would hope to get away with the above.
Bill
fficial&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=zVeFUZzFAeTH0QGrq4HoBQ&ved=0CAoQ_AUoAQ&biw=1305&bih=688