WRITTEN ON April 4th, 2007 BY William Heath AND STORED IN Uncategorized

Next on the list – CCTV cameras that boss you about in the annoying voice of a local schoolchild

“Talking” CCTV cameras that tell off people dropping litter or committing anti-social behaviour are to be installed in 20 areas across England. They are already used in Middlesbrough where anyone seen misbehaving can be told via a loudspeaker, controlled by control centre staff, to stop. Home Secretary John Reid has earmarked nearly £500,000 to fund the expansion.

Critics [[[Who are these people? We should send their names to John Reid and have their ID Cards rescinded]]] say the cameras are absurd and another example of excessive government intrusion into everyday life. Mr Reid said they were aimed at “the small minority” who “litter our streets, vandalise our communities and damage our properties…We all pay council tax so, in the end, we all pay when our communities are disrespected – both in our pockets as well as in our daily lives,” he said.

The home secretary said competitions were being held at schools in many of the areas for children to become [[[little fascist bastards]]] the voice of the cameras.

“By funding and supporting these local schemes, the government is encouraging children to send this clear message to grown ups – act anti-socially and you will face the shame of being publicly embarrassed,” Mr Reid added.

The talking cameras will be installed in Southwark, in London, Barking and Dagenham, in London, Reading, Thanet, Harlow, Norwich, Ipswich, Plymouth, Gloucester, Derby, Northampton, Mansfield, Nottingham, Coventry, Sandwell, Wirral, Blackpool, Salford, South Tyneside and Darlington.

Wibbi: – we installed CCTV cameras in the Commons with kids ticking off MPs for posturing, passing laws without thinking of the effects on people when they’re implemented, and wasting public money.

I wonder what these are going to be like? What outlet do you have if you find them extremely annoying? Can you “game” them by doing fake transgressions? Well, it’s a no-brainer what’s going to happen if they try to install them in Lewes.
* cheers Owen; via FIPR