Posted by Nola, QLD AUST on November 21, 2008:

You are being a bit harsh. I know this area (and wouldn't live there). The security cameras are mounted on poles, and make the area safer for 'law abiding citizens'. The mayor has had to be careful in how the media perceived the cameras. He couldn't say "Because your revolting little thugs of children are allowed to run wild in the city, we have had to put up cameras to stop them from destroying everything. Security guards man the cameras 24/7

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I don't dispute that constant surveillance makes things "safer". Do you dispute that they also intrude on the privacy of law-abiding citizens? -rc

Posted by Heidi - Florida on November 22, 2008:

You don't have 'Privacy' in a public place. If you're a law abiding citizen, you have nothing to worry about and perhaps you'll find some comfort in knowing that the area you are in is at least being monitored for illegal behavior.

Posted by Eleanor, UK on November 22, 2008:

Randy, I don't know if you're aware, but the UK has had cameras like this for quite some time (though it may still be in "trials", I'm not sure). Your comment on Nola's post above is entirely true. Recently there's been several cases in the UK where 'security measures' have been used inappropriately to pry on someone other than a known law-breaker.

Frankly, it scares me, and I plan to emigrate somewhere that isn't plunging so quickly into 1984. Looks like Australia's now off my list of possible places.

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Yes, definitely aware that UK is camera-laden. And no surprise they're being abused. -rc

Posted by Chris - Cape Town, South Africa on November 22, 2008:

I have never had a problem with so-called "invasion of privacy" by public surveillance cameras. You have no privacy when you are in a public place anyway, so using cameras to watch people in public cannot, by definition, be invasion of privacy. Recording of what people do in public might possibly be debatable -- but I don't see how, if you are in fact law-abiding, it can be a problem. Yeah, I know, not everything is always "black and white" and there could be cases where surveillance footage could break alibis or incriminate philanderers (for example) but it could just as likely be used to corroborate or exonerate.

And if it means there is a better chance of catching criminals or vandals - or, better still, simply discouraging them - then I am all for it.

Posted by jeanie ~ Texas on November 22, 2008:

In addition to my great dislike of Big Brother actions, how about this....WHY should "law abiding citizens" be required to pay to parent those children? If this mayor (and leaders everywhere) would just lead, perhaps the "law abiding citizens" would have someone to support and no one would give a flyin' flip what the media thought!

Since they have already posted those cameras, then maybe they should go all out and put up billboards with the pictures of the little darlings and their misbehavior! Telling them to move along, just moves them to another location...one without a camera? Just where does this thinking end? Do you put up a camera outside the door of every "thug" kid's house?

Posted by Geoff, Queensland on November 22, 2008:

Most law abiding people have nothing to fear from the cameras. I live not far from Ipswich and before the cameras were installed you would not linger in the main street but with the cameras installed the kind of people who think bashing older gentlemen is fun are gone from the public areas. Some are even in jail, where they belon, because of the cameras.

Normal people going about their daily business don't even realize the cameras are there but the criminal aspect of our society certainly do. These cameras and the increased police presence are a god send.

Posted by Emily, California on November 22, 2008:

Problem with some of the previous comments--we need to check our assumptions. If you assume the government tends toward benevolence and really does have your best interests in mind, then I can understand how cameras might not bother someone. However, given that we know public officials aren't always the most "virtuous" giving them the power to video tape people in public places is what I'd consider a little too much. Even if the government in general works for good, there will always be individuals tempted to do the wrong thing.
Cameras in the city is just TOO reminiscent of 1984.

Posted by James, Fairview Heights, IL on November 23, 2008:

George Orwell had it right. He just had the year off by a couple decades.

As I recall, reducing crime was also Hitler's ruse for disarming the German citizenry prior to his total dissolution of what had remained of that country's rights. I'm all for fighting crime, but our government leaders need to rethink their methods.

Oh yeah, and Randy, you're spot on. Little Brother does have to keep watching Big Brother too.

Posted by Jordan - Michigan on November 23, 2008:

I beg to differ with the idea that these cameras in public places creates an invasion of privacy. If there is a police officer in an area moving about and watching the citizenry does that also create an invasion of privacy? I see no difference between this and a camera besides the fact that the cameras are stationary.

Having the government monitor you on their property hardly seems an invasion of privacy to me. Being watched in grocery stores or gas stations is never questioned, so why is this? It serves the same purpose, to prevent crime or identify criminals, doesn't it?

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Wait: the government's property?! That's your property, my friend. Our property. As in "the public". Grocery stores and gas stations are private property, and indeed they can record things on their property if they wish. But the government is there to serve us, not to assume we're criminals that need to be watched. -rc

Posted by Doug, AZ USA on November 24, 2008:

This is the same wonderful country that has seized all of the law abiding citizens' guns while ignoring the criminals, and now wonders why crime is up.

When citizens abandon such basic rights such as self defenses to the government why should said government care about something like privacy? Having succeeded in its gun grab, it is clear that the overreaching by the government knows no end. This is a good lesson to those in the states who say it can not happen here.