£500k CCTV network springs up in Staffordshire

As Alex warned in the post below, we now see the painful effect of CCTV domino theory in action.

The Sentinel is gleefully reporting today that a new network of CCTV cameras will go live in Biddulph, Cheadle and Leek and surrounding villages in Staffordshire within the next few days.

As we have said before, the efficacy of CCTV cameras needs to be placed under serious consideration before local authorities so willingly turn to them; and we continue to be concerned by the capture and retention of images of innocent people going about the daily business.

But what really struck me about this story was the way the following line was reported without any question:

"…The system has cost £500,000 to install plus about £20,000 a year in running costs…"

And on top of this, Councillor Gill Burton is then quoted as saying:

"…The monitoring is excellent: it will be 24 hours a day, seven days a week…We have got it at a very affordable price…" 

In response Big Brother Watch would like to say that the monitoring is excessive and, if half a million pounds is affordable, perhaps the people of Staffordshire ought to be in for a Council Tax reduction soon?

By Dylan Sharpe