There is estimated to be more than 4 million surveillance cameras throughout the United Kingdom, with about 1.5 million closed circuit television cameras (CCTV) in city centers, train and subway stations, airports, and major retail areas.
In London alone, there are 500,000 surveillance cameras and an average Londoner can be seen on camera 300 times every day. Cars are also automatically being monitored using cameras that check registration plates. CCTV is also being used in 85 primary and secondary schools and colleges across the country. It is being used in schools as a way to monitor children who are disrupting lessons.
In addition, CCTV cameras may soon be fitted inside shops and supermarkets on the orders of the state to keep track on anybody buying alcohol. A new law will soon give councils the power to order licensed premises and pubs to be fit for surveillance cameras. The footage of people innocently buying a bottle of wine in a shop or a pint of beer in a bar must be stored for at least 60 days, and be handed over to the police on demand.
Meanwhile, "smart" CCTV cameras are now being used in the United Kingdom which will try to 'predict' if a crime is about to take place. This technology means that a human CCTV operator does not have to endlessly look at all the monitored screens . The systems does not observe people directly but tracks suspicious behavior such as dropped baggage, loitering and unusually slow walking.
An increase in public surveillance using CCTV cameras has already spread across the pond from Europe into many United States cities. New York City now has more than 3,000 new public and privately-owned cameras in service in the city. In Chicago, Mayor Daley has said that security and terrorism won't be an issue in the next few years since there will be a surveillance camera on every street corner in the city.
Increased government use of CCTV is the wave of the future for the security of major international cities,subways and airports. However, this increased government surveillance may be used not only for security and crime prevention but to also monitor other aspects of human behavior and as a method to collect taxes and even charge traffic fines.
An increase in government surveillance through CCTV to prevent domestic terrorism and to fight crime could result in government acting as a Big Brother that will watch everything in real time. As a result, a government invasion of our personal privacy could well lead to a future society where civil liberty is compromised in the name of homeland security and the prevention of street crime.
About the Author:
James William Smith has worked in Senior management positions for some of the largest Financial Services firms in the United States for the last twenty five years. He has also provided business consulting support for insurance organizations and start up businesses. Visit his website at http://www.eWorldvu.com or his daily blog at http://www.eworldvublog.blogspot.com