It’s not sufficient to persecute photographers in the street; there is always the chance that police misbehaviour might accidentally be recorded by a private CCTV system. Many such systems are no longer a technical joke and some are as sophisticated as those on which taxpayers’ money is so lavishly spent. Even antique equipment has its uses (try a 500mm SLR lens, with an appropriate adaptor, on any old C-mount surveillance camera; you’ll need a very solid mount, but you’ll get identification evidence at more than 100 yards).
It would doubtless be convenient and profitable for the Home Office, on the basis of some contrived scare-story, to demand the licensing by local councils of private CCTV systems, ensuring that the police would have power of veto over equipment specification and positioning, providing a complete database of all those businesses to be briskly visited and have their records seized in the event of, say, a demonstration in the vicinity, creating a new criminal offence of unlicensed possession of surveillance equipment (together with carefully worded catch-alls to allow confiscation of ‘unusual’ cameras or lenses and to rake in on-the-spot fines, and more powers of entry for everyone with a uniform, down to the town hall caretaker) and quietly supplementing council income to allow a political point to be scored in the matter of ‘limiting council tax’.
First one to spot the contrived CCTV scare story, let us all know. Because as soon as I read it, I knew it was coming.
2 comments:
Blackpool Borough Council (as well as probably many other local authorities too) already attach the following hefty conditions to most licensed premises applications:
8 The premises are to be equipped with a closed circuit television system which meets the criteria detailed in Lancashire Constabulary's guidance document CCTV/AW1*, and which is well maintained and fully functional during the hours the premises are open to members of the public. (*Guidance document CCTV/AW1 available from Blackpool Council Licensing Service).
9 The Local Authority CCTV control room will be notified:
a) On any occasion when the premises' CCTV or radio system is inoperative;
b) When the CCTV or radio system has been brought back into use.
10 The Police Licensing Unit shall be notified on any occasion when the CCTV or radio system is to be inoperative for a period in excess of one working day and shall provide a certificate from a competent person stating the reason for the system being inoperative and the measures which have been taken to satisfy the licence conditions.
Naturally, its to protect the customers, staff and 'passing members of the public' from alcohol fuelled violence... blah blah etc.
Blimey, so they didn't even wait for a scare!
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