1984
By specss | Tuesday, July 06, 2010, 18:23
Many years ago i read 1984 by George Orwell and thought blimey that wont happen here. It could i am afraid all you have to do is install fear in the populace real and imaginary tell them there is a crim on every street corner a terrorist in the vicinity and cameras go up and you feel safe. The I R A and the London suicide bombers were tracked by camaras but they did not stop the attacks. I suppose some have a place and are useful in crime detection but that is after the fact, they do not stop crime.
Comments
Absolutely right. Fear is always the tool used to make people more willing to surrender their traditional freedoms. These are freedoms that were hard won and easily lost again. Crime is a very serious issue - but trusting to surveillance to solve it is a form of surrender - and its misguided. CCTV etc have their place and are useful tools - but that's all they are. They are no substitute for solid policing, strong community and decent neighbours.
By Cllr Steve Tierney at 12:30 on 08/07/10
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