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On another thread the conviction of people reversing up a slip road has been discussed. As there is never a traffic car when you need one, should traffic trained police officers, (not council jobsworths), use fixed CCTV cameras monitored in a control room to prosecute dangerous driving and other offences. Or does it already happen, and if so who makes the decisions? I don't mean the bus lane or parking minor offences.
Edited by Old Navy on 22/01/2010 at 14:23
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>>should traffic trained police officers (not council jobsworths) use fixed CCTV cameras >>monitored in a control room to prosecute dangerous driving and other offences?
No. If I'm going to be brought before the courts for an offence that could, if I'm proven guilty, land me in jail then I want the person who initially reported the offence to be there, on the spot to ensure that they have the full picture.
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CCTV can be primary evidence. You could request that the person (officer) introducing the tape as evidence be called, but he/she will simply state basic facts about the cctv system and how the hard drive was turned into a disc/tape for the court. Up to the court to decide what weight to place upon the images. So there doesn't have to be a person initially reporting the offence. Use of cctv is now well established in court, it's the quality of the image that is the limiting factor.
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I'd be against any further investment in cameras, intelligent ANPR or otherwise. We've blown too much for too little return on this snake oil.
Between CCTV and anti-terrorism shennigans, i can't imagine the scale of the money that's been wasted. Becuase it's not rubbed in Joe Public's face, he never stops to consider it.
I'd really rather have another couple of high tech hospitals, better support for disadvantaged (thinking more disabled not bone idle btw) people, less duty on fuel etc.
There's all the trust problems inherent with them too -- who watches the watchers. I don't buy into selling our freedoms on a whim of "well if you've nothing to hide", people lost their lives to give us these freedoms i wouldn't give them away just like that.
I know where you're coming from ON, and i empathise, but i think as a nation we're too quick to introduce cameras, or worse (!) legislation.
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