Smile, you're on camera

[kiev4a]

One of the most fascinating aspects of London, for me, was all the security cameras. Someone over there told me England is the most watched nation and I tend to believe it--at least in London. I don't think there were many times while in the city when I could see a security camera looking down on us from a rooftop of light pole. Hard to believe there are enough people to monitor the input from all those cameras.

Personally, the cameras didn't bother me--didn't feel like my rights were being violated or anything like that. And I suspect more countries will follow England's lead. But I do wonder how much of a deterrent the cameras are. Now days it seems to be the goal of everyone to get on TV doing stupid and/or irresponsible things. The cameras seem to provide another venue for doing that.

Anyone else have thoughts on this?

[John Parry]

Wayne - Yes we are used to them by now. Careful where you scratch your backside! For the most part the recordings don't get looked at - they swing into use when there's a crime committed, when detectives get the job of going through the pictures from any nearby cameras. There are very few murders, assaults or robberies where the perpetrators aren't caught on camera. They use image enhancement techniques, and next thing the criminal's mother is saying "That looks like you Billy!"

Regards - John