The picture’s not clear on camera cutbacks

THE FRIDAY THING: THE use of cameras to keep an eye on people designated as posing a threat to society, or simply walking aimlessly about our streets and town centres, has over the last decade or so grown into a surveillance society in which we are all under scrutiny 24/7.

Some strapped-for-cash local councils have decided to scale back the use of surveillance cameras.

There are those who will claim the huge increase in CCTV cameras is a response to our need for more security. But are we really so crime and violence prone that hard-pressed councils need to spend thousands of pounds on CCTV?

Democratic, “open” Britain ironically has one of the largest networks of CCTV cameras in the world, supplemented by scores of private and domestic cameras that householders, councils and businesses use to protect themselves and, supposedly, us.

The question is whether CCTV cameras actually do help to keep us safe and offer protection for our belongings and property.

There have been instances of people being attacked in the street by machete-carrying goons. Were they helped by street cameras? A teenage boy, Zac Evans, was murdered in a machete attack outside a Gloucester pub. He may not be the last. Did cameras help him?

It will be some time before we can see whether the loss of cameras has had any influence - at all - on serious or even petty crime on the streets.