GoddessWhispers Posted September 24, 2006 #1 Share Posted September 24, 2006 Big Brother is shouting at you Last updated at 21:02pm on 16th September 2006 http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/arti...in_page_id=1770 Big Brother is not only watching you - now he's barking orders too. Britain's first 'talking' CCTV cameras have arrived, publicly berating bad behaviour and shaming offenders into acting more responsibly. The system allows control room operators who spot any anti-social acts - from dropping litter to late-night brawls - to send out a verbal warning: 'We are watching you'. Middlesbrough has fitted loudspeakers on seven of its 158 cameras in an experiment already being hailed as a success. Jack Bonner, who manages the system, said: 'It is one hell of a deterrent. It's one thing to know that there are CCTV cameras about, but it's quite another when they loudly point out what you have just done wrong. 'Most people are so ashamed and embarrassed at being caught they quickly slink off without further trouble. 'There was one incident when two men started fighting outside a nightclub. One of the control room operators warned them over the loudspeakers and they looked up, startled, stopped fighting and scarpered in opposite directions. 'This isn't about keeping tabs on people, it's about making the streets safer for the law-abiding majority and helping to change the attitudes of those who cause trouble. It challenges unacceptable behaviour and makes people think twice.' The Mail on Sunday watched as a cyclist riding through a pedestrian area was ordered to stop. 'Would the young man on the bike please get off and walk as he is riding in a pedestrian area,' came the command. The surprised youth stopped, and looked about. A look of horror spread across his face as he realised the voice was referring to him. He dismounted and wheeled his bike through the crowded streets, as instructed. Law-abiding shopper Karen Margery, 40, was shocked to hear the speakers spring into action as she walked past them. Afterwards she said: 'It's quite scary to realise that your every move could be monitored - it really is like Big Brother. 'But Middlesbrough does have a big problem with anti-social behaviour, so it is very reassuring.' The scheme has been introduced by Middlesbrough mayor Ray Mallon, a former police superintendent who was dubbed Robocop for pioneering the zero-tolerance approach to crime. He believes the talking cameras will dramatically cut not just anti-social behaviour, but violent crime, too. And if the city centre scheme proves a success, it will be extended into residential areas. The control room operators have been given strict guidelines about what commands they can give. Yelling 'Oi you, stop that', is not permitted. Instead, their instructions make the following suggestions: 'Warning - you are being monitored by CCTV - Warning - you are in an alcohol-free zone, please refrain from drinking'; and Warning - your behaviour is being monitored by CCTV. It is being recorded and the police are attending.' Mr Bonner said: 'We always make the requests polite, and if the offender obeys, the operator adds 'thank you'. We think that's a nice finishing touch. 'It would appear that the offenders are the only ones who find the audio cameras intrusive. The vast majority of people welcome these cameras. 'Put it this way, we never have requests to remove them.' But civil rights campaigners have argued that the talking cameras are no 'magic bullet', in the fight against crime. Liberty spokesman Doug Jewell said: 'None of us likes litterbugs or yobs playing up on a Saturday night, but talking CCTV cameras are no substitute for police officers on the beat.' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RollingThunder06 Posted September 24, 2006 #2 Share Posted September 24, 2006 I think that is terrific! I hope the results are great enough that other countries will take notice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ROGER Posted September 24, 2006 #3 Share Posted September 24, 2006 I am for it also. And get cameras in the School Class Rooms so parents can watch thier kids on line. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mekorig Posted September 24, 2006 #4 Share Posted September 24, 2006 ehhh? Too restrictive. Better teach tor espect the law, not to be in a ***** cage monitored every minute. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiggs Posted September 24, 2006 #5 Share Posted September 24, 2006 Interesting experiment. I'm not sure how I feel about this. Somehow it feels like it's just another excuse to reduce the number of active police officers. I guess time will tell. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bella-Angelique Posted September 24, 2006 #6 Share Posted September 24, 2006 This reminds me of a prank my youngest pulled. He found a spot on the third floor from which he could see his boss down on the second floor, but from which he could not be seen and no one on the second floor could see his boss in his office. After watching for awhile he got ont he cell and called him. "Hello, this is Brian ---------." "Helllllooo Brian, this ... is.... God. I have been receiving complaints about you, Brian, and after watching you playing Warcraft for the last ten minutes, and since you do not seem too busy or concerned with your work, I thought I would give you a calllll." I bet sooner or later someone uses the system in this piece to prank someone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
__Kratos__ Posted September 24, 2006 #7 Share Posted September 24, 2006 They do this in China as well because China doesn't trust their citizens to be good people. What's next? A off the streets time so crime will go down or something? It's all for the good of the tax paying citizens, right? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bella-Angelique Posted September 24, 2006 #8 Share Posted September 24, 2006 I don't mind it and it seems it would help get rid of curfews rather than cause more. However, if it gets to the point where they are telling you when to mow the lawn or where to place your plants in your garden, that I would have a big problem with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SnakeProphet Posted September 24, 2006 #9 Share Posted September 24, 2006 How about we stuff our politicians with publicly accessible wire taps and force them to carry them everywhere they go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
louie Posted September 24, 2006 #10 Share Posted September 24, 2006 Big Brother is shouting at you Last updated at 21:02pm on 16th September 2006 http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/arti...in_page_id=1770 Big Brother is not only watching you - now he's barking orders too. Britain's first 'talking' CCTV cameras have arrived, publicly berating bad behaviour and shaming offenders into acting more responsibly. The system allows control room operators who spot any anti-social acts - from dropping litter to late-night brawls - to send out a verbal warning: 'We are watching you'. Middlesbrough has fitted loudspeakers on seven of its 158 cameras in an experiment already being hailed as a success. Jack Bonner, who manages the system, said: 'It is one hell of a deterrent. It's one thing to know that there are CCTV cameras about, but it's quite another when they loudly point out what you have just done wrong. 'Most people are so ashamed and embarrassed at being caught they quickly slink off without further trouble. 'There was one incident when two men started fighting outside a nightclub. One of the control room operators warned them over the loudspeakers and they looked up, startled, stopped fighting and scarpered in opposite directions. 'This isn't about keeping tabs on people, it's about making the streets safer for the law-abiding majority and helping to change the attitudes of those who cause trouble. It challenges unacceptable behaviour and makes people think twice.' The Mail on Sunday watched as a cyclist riding through a pedestrian area was ordered to stop. 'Would the young man on the bike please get off and walk as he is riding in a pedestrian area,' came the command. The surprised youth stopped, and looked about. A look of horror spread across his face as he realised the voice was referring to him. He dismounted and wheeled his bike through the crowded streets, as instructed. Law-abiding shopper Karen Margery, 40, was shocked to hear the speakers spring into action as she walked past them. Afterwards she said: 'It's quite scary to realise that your every move could be monitored - it really is like Big Brother. 'But Middlesbrough does have a big problem with anti-social behaviour, so it is very reassuring.' The scheme has been introduced by Middlesbrough mayor Ray Mallon, a former police superintendent who was dubbed Robocop for pioneering the zero-tolerance approach to crime. He believes the talking cameras will dramatically cut not just anti-social behaviour, but violent crime, too. And if the city centre scheme proves a success, it will be extended into residential areas. The control room operators have been given strict guidelines about what commands they can give. Yelling 'Oi you, stop that', is not permitted. Instead, their instructions make the following suggestions: 'Warning - you are being monitored by CCTV - Warning - you are in an alcohol-free zone, please refrain from drinking'; and Warning - your behaviour is being monitored by CCTV. It is being recorded and the police are attending.' Mr Bonner said: 'We always make the requests polite, and if the offender obeys, the operator adds 'thank you'. We think that's a nice finishing touch. 'It would appear that the offenders are the only ones who find the audio cameras intrusive. The vast majority of people welcome these cameras. 'Put it this way, we never have requests to remove them.' But civil rights campaigners have argued that the talking cameras are no 'magic bullet', in the fight against crime. Liberty spokesman Doug Jewell said: 'None of us likes litterbugs or yobs playing up on a Saturday night, but talking CCTV cameras are no substitute for police officers on the beat.' your ouja board is very scary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoddessWhispers Posted December 5, 2006 Author #11 Share Posted December 5, 2006 Ask it a question. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thecreeper Posted December 5, 2006 #12 Share Posted December 5, 2006 Ask it a question. HUH? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoddessWhispers Posted December 5, 2006 Author #13 Share Posted December 5, 2006 "No" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thanato Posted December 5, 2006 #14 Share Posted December 5, 2006 This is just wrong. Britian is just, this is just plan bad. Welcome to 1984. ~Thanato Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bLu3 de 3n3rgy Posted December 6, 2006 #15 Share Posted December 6, 2006 (edited) I was reading this article on the CCTV system they have set up across the city of Glasgow (scotland) in the Sunday Express. A controller that was describing his work said they basically have the entire city covered and the cameras are so good they can zoom right in on people. They even begin to recognise people going about their daily routines and stuff. They already have certain points around the city where they can talk to the public via intercom. The controller described an incident with a lost child who happened to be near one of the intercoms, the controller was able to talk to the child untill the police arrived. They are trained to watch for certain body language so they can know who to zoom in on and watch. They recon they can predict alot of crime or trouble before it happens, which gives them time to get the police to the right places. The only downside of all this is it's all very well under a rational and fair Gov, it's just the implications involved if an irrational Gov was ever to get in power. Edited December 6, 2006 by Anvil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thecreeper Posted December 6, 2006 #16 Share Posted December 6, 2006 This is just wrong. Britian is just, this is just plan bad. Welcome to 1984. ~Thanato Your talking about the book right? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mekorig Posted December 6, 2006 #17 Share Posted December 6, 2006 I think so. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thanato Posted December 6, 2006 #18 Share Posted December 6, 2006 Your talking about the book right? Yes. ~Thanato Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BabelPlatz Posted December 7, 2006 #19 Share Posted December 7, 2006 How the hell am i supposed to score some pot in this town? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoddessWhispers Posted December 7, 2006 Author #20 Share Posted December 7, 2006 I think it's a sorry state of affairs in the conscious human community that anyone would think this program is a good idea. These must be the type of people that need be led to their sense of morality by a ring in the nose and fire at the heels. Chastisement in public is a good thing! But watch that same mentality when someone starts to chew them out in public. Would they take it!? Stand with pride in the face of derision, as someone personally chastises them for all to see!? Hardly! And yet what a lovely notion to keep people in moral check, when all that is afforded by a government sanctioned programmable audio device in the public domain and they're all for it! This is why the "Sheep" metaphor has survived for so long, in the theistic community,as a badge of sanctimonious pride. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now