CCTV Help or Hindrance?

I am really against this CCTVs. In Singapore, people are clamoring to have them installed. It is not that this is without merits - but it is invading our privacy!! What kind of humans we are if we are not even allowed our privacy? What are our basic rights? This world is increasingly unfit for living.

I don't have anything to hide pal , and I have never done anything I am ashamed of so I don't really mind CCTV , if they even help to catch 1 thief or one molester or one murdered then I am all for them , I don't really like the idea of being spied on but its all for a good cause xx

For certain things I would say CCTV can be a good thing, such as shops, where people have the right to protect their property and also in some areas of the streets that are known danger areas. I remember when a poor bloke was thrown from London Bridge by a gang of youths and if it hadn't been for the CCTV they would never have been caught. So in some ways it is worth the invasion of privacy. What I find odd though is that most of the cameras they have are useless anyway. If I watch Crimewatch sometimes I can hardly see the person they are trying to catch. With all the technology around today, they should be able to design cameras that take a clearer picture? What I object to though is the new introduction of cameras to catch the youth mainly from drinking on the streets or just getting up to the usual things every generation of youths have done. There seems to be a zero tolerance to rebel at anything now and I can remember doing things I maybe shouldn't have but that is part of growing up. On the news today they showed cameras installed with microphones so the person watching could make comments to people who may have littered or climbed onto something they shouldn't have. To me this is going too far. I do believe this is an invasion of our privacy!!!

CCTV doesn't bother me, it's reasuring to know that it helps catch criminals, even if you are being watched going about your daily business, but then if thats all your doing you've got nothing to worry about! Lets just hope it does what its supposed to do and deter the bad guys!

no. i don't have a problem with CCTV and i thing the sentence: "invading our privacy" is an neverending sentence. what is your privacy..and do you really think that cctv invades it. let's think for a second where they usually put the cctv and for what they are using it ande we will probably get to the canclousion that it is better there then not. if i remember right the cctv helped identify the bombers in the bomb attack in london and it helped on alote of cases. so i am for it. and no i do not think that it invades my privacy in a range that i rather not have the cctv to help with important things.

cctv has helped to put a lot of very dangerous criminals behind bars, even if the crime is not done in front of a camera they can sometimes put the offender at the scene by tracking their movements on cctv! Knowing that 80% of the time you will be videoed while on the street does make me a bit unnerved sometimes but then I also feel safer because I know many violent and dangerous people are off our streets because of it!

I agree with the need for this level of surveillance, and despie understanding the many objections that people have concerning privacy I feel that they serve a very good purpose. CCTV not only acts as a very good deterrent to crime and unsocial behaviour, but also serves the purpose of protecting the innocent from false accusations. It would be nice to live in a society were this type of monitoring was not necessary, but at present I am in favour of CCTV.

CCTV is very helpful for security reasons. But sometimes they interfere our privacy and It can be overlooked if we think about the help they provide.

CCTV is very helpful for security reasons. But sometimes they interfere our privacy. It can be overlooked if we think the help they provide.

Hmm the nearest 'live' CCTV camera is 8 miles from where I live .. and there are opnly a handful of them in the city .. Personally I couldn't care less about CCTV .. I am never going to be doing something I shouldn't so I am perfectly safe being taped .. I suppose I should worry .. but heck .. who cares ... I only go into the town about 4-5 times a year so am rarely seen on CCTV ..

well wolfie i would rather have my every move monitored than being worried about someone plotting a bomb to kill thousands of innocent people. half the time i would like to know what the world is coming too? if there weren't so many evil terrorists about we wouldnt have this problem and the government is trying their best to keep UK safe as everyone knows after the London bombings

I see it from both sides, so a mixed opinion here. I think it's a good thing that they are keeping a steady watch on public places and things like this but I do see the downsides such as "cameras" that follow your movement as if your up to something, which is annoying. One of the good things about it is the fact muggers and thugs are easily spotted and a source on tape if needed. I do wished they'd remove some, because it's becoming a candy camera thing here in nottingham but I have seen a large change since they have. (which is good) ~Joey

I think CCTV is great for peace of mind, safety and security in certain areas, such as where there is gang culture, or where it is known to be a high crime risk region. What I really dislike however is the way CCTV has been put in virtually everywhere and the mentality that goes along with it which suggests that everyone is guilty unless proven innocent, i.e it is more of a suspect culture that has developed. There were articles in the national press recently saying just how bad things have got in the UK and I think it's a worrying trend. Perhaps they should stop installing cameras and get more visible police actually walking the streets as a prevention of crime initiative instead!

At least I presently thought is also good

No they do not bother me at all actually I hardly notice them to be honest I think they are a good Idea even though no doubt there are People about that do misuse them

If you are not doing anything wrong you have nothing to worry about. But we sure seem to be moving into the Big Brother era don't we?

Doesn't bother me in the slightest to be honest wolfie. I think there is nothing to be afraid of providing you have nothing to hide, and as my conscinece is clear, I truly don't care if Big Brother is watching me on my way to work or whatever. I'velived in Croatia, and briefly in Russia, and spent time in South America, where the Police "presence" is much greater than it is in the Uk, all the forces are armed, and it is a very serious ofence not to carry your ID at all times - so truly a few CCTV cameras bring me no fear!!

well for me its better to have them just for our safeness..

In strengthening the security of the people,but not everyone's privacy protection.Is it a balanced approach?