cctv in cabs

[Pred]

as I'm sure everyone knows the uk has the most cctv cameras trained on you than anywere else on earth, per size and capita head

well it just got worse
http://www.metro.co.uk/news/881733-...-taxis-as-big-brother-tapes-cab-conversations

i know there is intermittent cameras on buses and trains, when they work
and cctv a good idea in many areas, but recording conversations. jesus

if cab safety is that bad then maybe take a pic before people get in or as get in as a pilot but sheesh

 

[sdsinc]

The UK is leading the pack in other areas too, like DNA sampling.
Of all Western nations the UK is the worst surveillance state. The US also deserves a special mention though the 'achievements' are not all the same.

Whatever happened to reason and common sense ?
Orwell must be turning in his grave.

 

[Pred]

its just another can of worms set to unravel
imagine the two politicians returning from a couple of drinks discussing important imformation, not realising theyre being recorded, or forgetting

also in the states people are on the sec offenders register for taking a leak down an alleyway!
the irony is there are no public toilets anymore because of real sex offenders and the council also didnt want to pay to run them!

so, if you're having a grope with your girlfriend on the way back from a night out and your young and fancyfree, next thing you know, reported to police for 'lewd' behaviour in a 'public place' - back of cab
and we know the police seem only able to string a prosecution together with cctv evidence so they'll no doubt take that thanks very much!
more lives with criminal records and destroyed future for doing nothing wrong
drivers privelege to ask people to stop, naturally. that should be enough

what a fucked up place this country has become


in London it's just not safe to get a minicab, especially if a young woman, this is plain wrong but the police simply cannot police it all
so extra measure would be good. but with anpr (outside of a cab, on masts etc) they should be able to get the illegals
by illegals i mean no licence, no passport etc, criminal records etc

it is very well run in the town i live
the police only let in hackney carriages and licence minicabs into town centre at night and can't just stop anywhere and you have to ring them or go to cab office
this protects both sides and am all for that. people are very vulnerable when had a drink and other side of coin is can be aggressive. so best protects everyone this way

this 'idea' once again has not been thought through at all, and the few freedoms we have left are disappearing down the plughole
if I didn't have kids I would have left this sinking ship years ago
i will do in years to come and hopefully can take them with me for a better life

 

[Bailey]

The bottom line is that communities (including individuals whilst at home) are/shouldbe responsible for reporting and "policing" in a non-aggressive/non-confrontational way - it does work.

Sadly the bigger the town - the more the curtain closing

 

[GreyWing]

People complain about surveillance society but how many crimes have been solved by it.

Programs like those idiots on the real hustle doing all their fraud tricks, they'd do one and then the police would draw up their faces on cctv and game over. Robbery in London all but disappeared in the 80's due to cctv. Football Hooliganism, gone.

Remember things like DNA advances have cleared more people than those who have been convicted by it. In the same light a taxi driver round here was stopped from driving because a girl made a false accusation against him after he wouldn't give her a discount. He was out of work for 5 months whilst it was pending. Now he has a camera in his car for his own protection.

Also the more cctv actually equals less surveillance because the number of people it would take to watch all of this stuff is not going up. The problem in security isn't obtaining the information, it never has been. The problem is clearing out all the irrelevant stuff that clouds it.

 

[Bailey]

I feel very fortunate to live in a town that came seventh in the "Times list" of the most safesest- non-policed areas to live in. Rochford/Rayleigh. Essex. I'm not sure We deserve that great reputation - but at the same time - God help anyone that knowingly steps out-of-line (including me)

A good home extends beyond a City wall, London is getting there. And so it should by now. The City is in East London (and Essex fed)

 

[Pred]

cctv is great for many things and helps catch criminals and helps prevent crime
i just think they should spend more time and money on education and the causes of crime and prevention, and spend more money keeping the real lowlifes locked up! rather than cameras are the answer to everything

i think cameras and audio in enclosed spaces you cant swing a cat in (and taxpayer is paying for it) is going too far. and as explained has many potential problems

 

[jasman]

It's outrageous and stupid. To make out it's for the taxi driver's protection and then force all of them to do it is absurd.

At the very least it should be voluntary for the taxi, not mandatory, and then there should be a big notice warning about it. Then when ordering a cab, you could insist you want one that doesn't record you. That way the taxi drivers who want this technology for their protection can still have it if they are happy for a proportion of people to not use them (and happy to pay the cost of the equipment). And the taxi drivers who don't care for it aren't forced to and the local people who haven't succombed to the 'accept whatever' slave mentality can avoid having their privacy infringed.

 

[Aegean]

A few weeks ago I flew home from Greece to visit my old auntie who recently had a stroke. I flew to Leeds/Bradford airport, hired a car and drove up to the highlands.

My friend in Jedburgh, just over the Scottish border, offered me to stay with him for a night to break my journey. I drove up past Newcastle airport and went over the Scottish border (where the big sign and viewpoint are). In the pace of time I crossed the border until I got to Jedburgh I passed 12 CAMERAS on the road. I don't think it can be more than 10 or 11 miles, and Jedburgh is a very small place. I couldn't believe it.

[edit] I should say this is not the main road to Scotland, rather the 'back road'. Personally I think we've gone over the top with these things.

 

[Edwin]

Part of it is a good idea: if you're going to try to implement something controversial, do it across the board because then there's no alternative. Imagine if they made it "voluntary" - that would create 100x as many problems as mandating it for all taxis registered within the city limits.

 

[diablo]

A few weeks ago I flew home from Greece to visit my old auntie who recently had a stroke. I flew to Leeds/Bradford airport, hired a car and drove up to the highlands.

My friend in Jedburgh, just over the Scottish border, offered me to stay with him for a night to break my journey. I drove up past Newcastle airport and went over the Scottish border (where the big sign and viewpoint are). In the pace of time I crossed the border until I got to Jedburgh I passed 12 CAMERAS on the road. I don't think it can be more than 10 or 11 miles, and Jedburgh is a very small place. I couldn't believe it.

[edit] I should say this is not the main road to Scotland, rather the 'back road'. Personally I think we've gone over the top with these things.

The A68 is one of the main routes between England and Scotland - not a "back road" - and for years it has been known for its accident black spots. The A1 is the only other main route on the East.

That said, the number of cameras is what everyone comments on when using the A68 and it's no surprise that Lothian and Borders raise more money through cameras each year than any other part of Scotland!

Carter's Rest does great pub food in Jed next time you're passing through too ;-)

 

[KarlM]

At least i will be able to remember what crap i was talking on the way home in the Taxi drunk

 

[accelerator]

Hard working cab drivers can face a high level of threat to their safety, so I'm all for it. I'm sure that they'll be signs up in the cab explaining recording is in operation, so people will know beforehand.

Rgds

 

[accelerator]

I would definitely want a CCTV system if I was a cabbie.

Rgds

 

[atlas]

Covered on boingboing:

http://boingboing.net/2011/11/15/oxford-city-council-every-cab.html

Good point made:

The idea that peoples' words should be recorded when they are in public places "just in case," is really troubling, as it's hard to see why, if it's justifiable to record taxi passengers in case they're criminals, you wouldn't also record restaurant patrons, park-goers, bus-riders -- why you wouldn't, in short, record every word uttered in public just in case someone committed a crime.

 

[atlas]

...double post...

 

[Pred]

exactly my point

I mean almost all accidents happen in the home so lets all have cctv in every home!
also most assaults are domestic violence, and most child abuse is carried out by family members or 'friends' not strangers
so it would be prudent to record every act and every conversation in every home!
NOT

 

[BREWSTERS]

It'll keep 'You've Been Framed' going for a few more years...you'll get cabbies setting off while drunks are half way in - be an easy £250 tip for them.

 

[sdsinc]

I would definitely want a CCTV system if I was a cabbie.

Rgds

I prefer to have a gun but maybe that's just me