• Media Enquiries

    07505 448925(24hr)

Council asks for ‘volunteers’ to watch the town’s CCTV network

CCTV symbol Minehead CCTV partnership, whose cameras watch the people of Minehead Town Council, West Somerset Council and Avon and Somerset Police, has placed a story in the local newspaper - the Somerset County Gazette - advertising for local people to become volunteers at the CCTV office, based in the town’s police station.

According to the report:

Acting area inspector Neil Dillon said: “CCTV is a valuable tool in deterring people from committing crimes as well as providing evidence that can be critical in tracking down criminals and bringing them to justice.

“We are inviting people with an interest in improving community safety to get involved. “The volunteers are valued members of a professional team, and we would love to hear from anyone who wishes to help.”

The volunteers would normally be asked to work between two and four hours, controlling the system and monitoring the images.

In their rush to ensure their control room is manned, the local authorities and police force involved have completely ignored the privacy implications of this policy.

They are asking local people who they claim will be 'trained' and 'vetted' - although almost certainly not to the same degree that professional CCTV operators are – to come down to the CCTV centre and spy on their neighbours.

People do not like being watched, least of all by members of the public who put themselves forward for the task. This is a bad idea and the offer should be withdrawn immediately.

By Dylan Sharpe  

Posted on February 24, 2010 by Big Brother Watch Posted in CCTV
  • Chris

    Isn’t this what the East German secret police did? Are Avon & Somerset Police out of their tiny little minds?

  • Redacted

    Calling all sneaks and creeps. Want to get your own back on the goody-goody types who made you feel bad at school? Call now! Brown shirts optional. Blackmailers and stalkers welcome.
    @Chris: I wouldn’t be surprised.

  • Redacted

    It sounds a bit like a budget shortfall issue to me. They want more watchers but can’t currently afford them, so someone has a bright idea… volunteers!

  • A Goss

    Our local authority advertised for volunteers to oversee the use of the cctv system. Unfortunately they allowed the manager of the system (a local government employee) to have input into the selection including confidential details of applicants.
    Personally I would not have the slightest objection to cctv if all the cameras had a web feed and a local monitor so members of the public could see the system was not being used to target anyone in particular. Used in that fashion they would be no more than another pair of eyes belonging to a passerbye. It is the use of them for covert surveillance and the lack of independent oversight that makes cctv so dangerous

  • Space Invaded

    I love the way the little cameras whirl about, frantically searching for….what? someone having a good time? – God forbid!
    There is no evidence to support the use of this total invasion of individual privacy, any ‘crime’ that it deters will simply move to areas that are not covered-what then, cameras in our homes? Don’t laugh, it could happen……….