‘Paraphrasing’

‘Nowhere to hide as Britain tops CCTV league’People in Britain are monitored bymore Surveillance camerasthan anybody else in the World,according to research.There are believed to be more than 4mclosed circuit television (CCTV) cameras –one for every 14 people in the country.A four- fold rise in cameras in just three yearshas alarmed civil liberties groups.They are calling for tighter controls over their useand over the retention of images on film.Professor Clive Norris, deputy director of the Centre for Criminological Research at Sheffield University,estimates that at least 4,285,000 CCTV camerashave been installed .The figure passes Norris’s own prediction in 2001that the number of cameras would merely doublefrom 1m by 2004.It is claimed that Britain has more Surveillance camerasthan the rest of Europe combined.“Britain is the only country where there has beenbig government funding for the installations,” said Fry,“Europe and the United Statesdo not have a ‘Yob’ culture like we do.I can think of only six American cities with CCTV (cameras) looking at the streets, while there are more than 1,000(urban) areas in Britain where CCTV is used.A contributing factor in the slow uptakeof surveillance systems in America and other European countries are stricter privacy lawsthat influence the placement of CCTV camerasin public spacesAnd dictate how images of the public can be used.By contrast,successive Conservative and Labour governmentshave funded CCTV throughout Britainover the past decadeas part of the fight againstcrime and antisocial behaviour.Legal controls over CCTV were introduced in 2000as part of the Data Protection Act.It says signs have to be erected to inform peoplethey are being filmed and gave the public the rightto see footage of their own image.The act also says businesses or councilsmust have a legitimate reason for installing cameras.Earlier this year the Information Commission –a government watchdog responsible for enforcing the act - suggested camera operatorsshould destroy imagesof people caught on film as soon as possible.But the move, which failed to stipulate a maximum timefor the retention of images,is perceived as guidance rather than law.There have been reports of security companiesselling images of couples having sex in public.Last year a man was awarded £7,800 damagesafter footage of him attempting suicide –captured by council CCTV cameras –was handed to the press~The Sunday Times April 18 2004