The Home Affairs Select Committee has put another nail in the coffin of ‘talking CCTV’ in public places, in its report into whether the UK has developed into a ‘surveillance society’.
The committee report stood out against ‘talking CCTV’ – that is, cameras with microphones so operators can tell offenders to stop dropping litter, and so on – introduced with fanfare by past Home Secretary Dr John Reid. The report said: “In particular,the Home Office should give its assurance that it will not countenance schemes such as those which involve the use of microphones attached to cameras, and in effect apply the techniques of directed and intrusive surveillance to the general public. Such measures impinge on the degree of privacy individuals expect to be able to enjoy in public spaces …”
You can download the 119-page report report at http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmhaff.htm
The report concluded: “We acknowledge the popularity of CCTV schemes and do not underestimate the potential effect on crime levels of successful attempts to encourage people to use public spaces.However,as the Minister [Tony McNulty] told us, it has been difficult to quantify the benefits of CCTV in terms of its intended effect of preventing crime. We recommend that the Home Office undertake further research to evaluate the effectiveness of camera surveillance as a deterrent to crime before allocating funds or embarking on any major new initiative.” The report endorsed the Information Commissioner’s calls for more transparency by public space CCTV operators.
The report said: “A strong common theme is emerging in both the private and public sector: a move towards more personalised services which require the service provider to collect information from individuals in order for the service to be effective.”
The British Security Industry Association has welcomed the report. Pauline Norstrom, BSIA CCTV Section Chairman, said: "We welcome the findings of this wide-ranging report which confirms the fact that the UK should not be regarded as a surveillance society. The report acknowledges the support of both the police and the public for CCTV and the role it plays in reducing fear of crime and investigating offences. We believe that examples such as CCTV’s contribution to the recent Tonbridge convictions and to the investigation of the London bombings demonstrate the effectiveness of the technology."
"As an industry we have long taken our responsibilities seriously with regard to the protection of individuals’ privacy which is preserved through legislation such as the Data Protection and Human Rights Acts and by continued legislative consultation as CCTV technologies become more sophisticated. The BSIA itself has produced a guide to privacy masking designed to offer guidance to the industry and users of systems on protecting the privacy of the public."
"The CCTV industry is fully prepared not only to develop new technologies, but also to consider the effects that such technologies may have on the privacy of the public and to review current legislation and guidelines accordingly. We will work with the Government and other agencies in our role on the National CCTV Strategy Programme Board with respect to any further safeguards to be developed on the use of CCTV. We will ensure that the technology can still be used effectively in crime prevention and detection whilst also protecting the privacy of the public."
For more information on CCTV, visit www.bsia.co.uk/cctv
