Local councils around the country have been trialling new Closed Circuit Television cameras that have the added feature of speaking to you. The cameras have a built-in speaker system, which enables the monitor to direct orders at people who are causing public offences. So our surveillance society is growing by the day and there should be a public discussion on whether we need all of this scrutiny?

London is the most watched city on the planet. On an average day people are recorded on camera from the moment they leave their houses until they return to them at night. There are hardly any spots that are not covered by the 200,000 cameras posted around the streets in the city. Just to give some example of the coverage, every main road with a bus route is covered. Every shopping centre and high street is monitored. Every park and open space is viewed. Every car park and more increasingly housing estates are observed from above. Every single shop has some form of recording device. Even obtaining money from a cash point has its own video system that switches on. There really is complete blanket coverage in every public and private space.

Now we are told that we have nothing to fear and that our safety is paramount. The saying goes that if you are not doing anything wrong then you have nothing to worry about. Our only real concern should be if we have made an effort to look good for all of the cameras that record and survey our every movement throughout the day.

One cause for concern is that in spite of the dramatic rise in CCTV cameras, the fear of crime has not disappeared and the actual crime rates continue to rise despite of all of the money being pumped into surveillance. CCTV cameras are being erected without any real direction or purpose. A recent study by the Home Office found that “Closed Circuit TV systems are of little use in the fight against crime”, so why are we not making a fuss about being watched?

CCTV can play a vital role in crime prevention and detection as well as raising public confidence and feelings of safety. The London borough of Southwark currently has 124 cameras covering Peckham Town Centre, Camberwell Town Centre, East Street, Southwark Park Road and the Elephant and Castle shopping centre and subways. CCTV works best when it’s part of a package of improvements in an area alongside improving street lighting, redesigning areas to make it more difficult for crime to take place and community warden schemes.

The latest developments in the world of surveillance have produced speaking CCTV cameras that will challenge offenders who drop litter for example. These cameras were implemented by the then Home Secretary John Reid who told BBC News that “there are some people in the minority who will be more concerned about what they claim are civil liberties intrusions, but the vast majority of people find that their life is more upset by people who make their life a misery in the inner cities because they can’t go out and feel safe and secure in a healthy, clean environment because of a minority of people”

Is this a step to far? Here are some CCTV Facts:

The UK has 1 percent of the world’s population and 20 percent of the world’s CCTV cameras.

The first CCTV camera in the UK was installed at Guy’s Hospital, London in 1949.

Croydon has more CCTV cameras than New York.

London’s Metropolitan Police Force have approximately 200,000 cameras installed around the capital.

Almost every bank cash machine in the country uses CCTV to record you making your transaction – bet you can’t see the camera.

The UK has more CCTV cameras per head of population than ANY other country. About one camera for every 14 people.

Harrods London store has in excess of 500 CCTV cameras installed.

You are likely to be caught on camera 300 times a day.