CCTV cameras around Britain are being switched off to cut costs indy100 indy100 Indy100 logoNewsletter sign upRegister/Sign inTop 100NewsViralPoliticsCelebritiesScience & TechVideoWishlistWishlistBooksFashion & BeautyFood & DrinkHome & GardenKidsSports & FitnessTechTravel & OutdoorsMoreScience & techVideoConversationsSportIdentitiesLifestyleShowbizTVSearchxNews
CCTV cameras around Britain are being switched off to cut costs
Chris GreenMay 23, 2015 Closed-circuit television cameras are being switched off in towns and cities across Britain as councils seek to cut costs – a development welcomed by civil liberties groups but which has led to concerns that police will find it harder to investigate crimes. Tony Porter, the Surveillance Camera Commissioner, is responsible for regulating about 100,000 publicly operated cameras in England and Wales. He told the Independent that a rising number of councils were shutting down CCTV networks to cope with cuts imposed under the austerity programme, raising the prospect of a “postcode lottery” for crime detection. On Friday night, the Police Federation said the deactivation of cameras would introduce “vulnerabilities” to counter-terrorism operations and “deny justice” to victims of sex offences and street violence. “There are an increasing number of examples where councils are citing a lack of money as the rationale to reduce the service,” said Mr Porter (left), a former counter-terror officer. “Because CCTV isn’t a statutory function, it is something a lot of councils are looking at. “Most people recognise the utility of CCTV for supporting law enforcement. To degrade the capacity may have an impact on police. It may be that they will find it increasingly difficult to acquire the images that will help them investigate crimes.” A spokesman for the Government said crime had fallen by more than a quarter since 2010, making communities “safer than at any point” since the Crime Survey for England and Wales began in 1981. “Decisions on CCTV provision should be made by elected councillors,” he added. More: No, this is not CCTV footage of a tiger on the loose in Paris US actors Reynolds and McElhenney to be honoured by people of Wales
How will the next prime minister and Tory leader be chosen
Ellis-Bextor to get the party started at new show for Edinburgh s Hogmanay
Please log in or register to upvote this article Top 100
Man endures ' 29 hour flight' with screaming kids for the entire trip
flightplanechildflightOct 12, 2022 How likely is it that Boris Johnson could be prime minister again
Boris Johnsonboris johnsontory leadership contesttory leadership racetory leaderTory leadershiptory leadershipConservativesconservative partyConservative Partyconservative leadership raceconservativesBoris JohnsonOct 21, 2022 The Rocky career of Dwayne Johnson
Dwayne Johnsonthe rockblack adamwweDwayne JohnsonOct 21, 2022 Lorraine Kelly hits out at Madonna' s ' boiled egg' face
madonnamadonnalorraine kellygmbshowbizplastic surgeryOct 11, 2022 Elon Musk is actually selling a ' Burnt Hair' fragrance
elon muskthe boring companyperfumeelon muskburnt hairOct 12, 2022 Jon Stewart slams Arkansas attorney general for her ' anti-trans law'
lgbt+transgenderlgbt+jon stewartapple tvarkansasus newsnewsOct 11, 2022 Just Stop Oil protester praised for ' great' explanation of soup stunt
just stop oilvan goghprotestclimate activistsjust stop oilOct 19, 2022 Couple spark debate for ' scandalous' wedding cake topper
wedding caketiktokwedding cakeviralOct 12, 2022 Love Island star shows extent of how far influencers edit photos
Love IslandOct 11, 2022 Steven Seagal describes Putin as one of ' greatest world leaders'
steven seagalOct 10, 2022 Lizzo wears empowering shirt after being fat-shamed by Kanye West
lizzoOct 10, 2022 A lettuce just outlasted Liz Truss' stint as prime minister
Liz TrussOct 20, 2022 Newsnight guest says ' you can' t treat mortgages like prime ministers'
Liz TrussOct 20, 2022 The best memes about Suella Braverman ' departing' as home secretary
suella bravermanOct 19, 2022The Conversation (0)