LONDON - Ian Readhead, the deputy chief constable of Hampshire fears the situation with CCTV cameras is "Orwellian" and could lead British society to become a signature surveillance society.
Speaking on the BBC's Politics Show, Mr Readhead said CCTV cameras were being employed in communities where the crime rate was very low. He feared they could also be present at each and every street corner.
"I'm really concerned about what happens to the product of these cameras, and what comes next?" he said. "If it's in our villages, are we really moving towards an Orwellian situation where cameras are at every street corner? And I really don't think that's the kind of country that I want to live in." His comments followed the installation of CCTV cameras worth £10,000 in Stockbridge where the crime rate is not worth talking about.
Readhead said there was an urgent need to review the situation with speed cameras. He also called for means to save some DNA evidence.
It is estimated that there are almost 4.2 million CCTV cameras in the country - this works out to be just about one CCTV camera for 14 people!
