Taking a gander at the new Thanet council website, I was frankly shocked and surprised, not that they have wasted time and money on a new website but a notification on the site that for reasons best known to the council a fleet of fifteen new dust carts, are to be fitted with security cameras covering 360°, which we are informed, will film continuously.
Now the reasons for this extraordinary addition of surveillance cameras to your normal refuse truck are given, as helping resolve disputes, monitoring staff and helping settle insurance claims, all of which are I don't doubt true, but as you might expect no details of how or if information and images gathered from people's homes will be protected.
Since once a week, a waste vehicle, will appear outside almost ever home in Thanet, I don't think it unreasonable to query how images gathered, will be handled, who will have access, will those who have access have had criminal records check since I assume the spy cameras will presumably be able snoop over fences and hedges in to people private spaces.
I think most readers will feel I'm being a bit alarmist, but confidence in Thanet council officers is frankly at an low point given the rather odd dealings and subsequent obstructive flow of information concerning the TransEuropa fiasco, and of course compliant docile politicians (sadly Tory & Lab).
I also take a glib view that many council staff put pettiness and nit picking adherence to trivial regulations above serving the public. Even if these cameras are not misused by snooping or nosy jobsworths, from the council should staff, doing a tough job probably not the best paid, be looking over their shoulders, throughout the day knowing that the boss or bosses are recording their every move. God knows that some managers at TDC are hardly fit for their own jobs let alone sitting in judgement hard working bin men.
TDC are to be congratulated on buying a fleet that has separate containment areas. Unlike most over local councils that have to operate a two weekly collection system using different vehicles. Only those with something to hide should worry about the cameras, cameras are a common feature around our towns and public transport systems.
ReplyDeleteYeah righteo "only those with something to hide should worry" says anonymous contributor who has what to hide? possibilities range from incompetent council officer to more likely dead beat Labour councillor, still clearly something to hide.
DeleteWell done 09 27 for shooting yourself in the foot!
So you'd be more than happy then for the Government to install a camera in every room in your home including bedroom and bathroom then? If you have nothing to hide....
DeleteNo doubt on you recent holiday you enjoyed the protection at airports provided by all those security cameras.
ReplyDeleteamazing how many terrorists are to be found hiding lurking near the bins, still maybe you could let clive know how tricky it is to spot them since most disguise themselves as pesky seagulls. You never can tell with those AlQaeda chaps.
DeleteFallacy statement of the year award!
DeletePlease provide documented evidence where a camera fitted in a UK airport has prevented a terrorist act.
Tony
ReplyDeleteAll Loop buses are fitted with cameras I believe there to be around 5 per bus recording interior & exterior. Cases have been reported of car owners claiming their mirrors to have been taken off by buses when claimant is informed that the company would study the camera recording they do a hasty runner, the drivers don't have a problem as no one
has the time to study miles of film daily only when there is a dispute. Ray
Not being on a bus route it doesn't effect me , but all this surveillance is a pain the bum.
DeleteWhy do we pay for the council to provide cameras in town centres that have little or no effect the world is crazy.
And you just know that TDC officers probably got more excited about spy cameras than than the main purpose of the vehicles.
Many councils fit these cameras to save tax payers money. York council for example spent £60,000 fitting them to 17 new vehicles with the object of reducing insurance claims of £30,000 a year, many of which cannot be verified without CCT footage. They also claim that the need to returned for missed pick ups is also reduced as many are not the councils fault.
ReplyDeleteYou are not suggesting that with its high crime rate and anti social behaviour TDC are going to use these cameras for anything other than costs savings.
I worked as a binman and a gardener for York City Council in the 1980s. At Xmas we used to get a good few tips from our clients and the odd snifter of whiskey or brandy. I recall being quite merry on more than one collection. Thankfully this CCTV malarkey wasn't round them otherwise we would have all been sacked for taking backhanders and being pissed on the job. Just like the bosses at Thanet Council. Happy days
DeleteLooks like the fitting of CCT to refuse vehicles is a HSE issue and I am sure Tony you of all people would want TDC to comply with this. Take a look at safety in reversing refuse vehicles - recent case law if you are interest in the real issue and not another one of knocking Cllr Hart.
ReplyDeleteWe should scrap security cameras on trains! What do you think Tony?
ReplyDeleteIn the recent months, the refuse collectors have sent 1 guy ahead. He wheels the bins down the road into a large group, for the refuse lorry to empty.
ReplyDeleteWhat happens every bloody week, is they either leave them all down the road, or put them back in the wrong properties, then you have to go find and fetch them.
If the bin goes missing, you have to pay for another one.
Gonna be even worse in November, as most of the neighbourhood shreds their personal data. The recycling bins have no tops to them, everything will either blow into the street or get wet.
Obviously not many road sweepers to cleanup afterwards either.
The binmen parked up having a snooze is a problem but 360 degree cameras 24/7 seems over the top. How much is spent on these and on claims of missing wing mirrors etc?
ReplyDeleteThe cost of 750 TDC civil servants for just 15 dustcarts and clerical work must never be queried of course. What are they all doing?
I had to smile at the old remark "Only those who have something to hide have something to fear". It is about 3 years since a police force took a lad to court with senior officers having given evidence that they saw him driving a SUV recklessly on the road. The police specified time and place and positive identification. Meanwhile the CCTV and electronics record system at a vehicle valet had recorded the SUV in and out after collection. Spanning the times Police had sworn to seeing it driven on the road !
ReplyDeleteThe Police decided not to turn up at Court as witnesses so CPS withdrew. But Police went on to get the young man on another offence for which he ended up with an ankle tag.
Next police attention the young chap received. Two officers wrote their statements about following him for twenty minutes on the road. Only to be told the ankle tag technology had him placed in his kitchen for those twenty minutes.
So it cuts both ways ?