London's Eye: CCTV Awakens Big Brother Sentiments

The London Eye, one of the many structures part of Britain's millennium project that now stands face to face with the rustic majesty of Westminster and Big Ben, which have kept the tube running on time and their Island Nation safe. As the old meet the new from across the river Thames the very positioning of these two iconic symbols of London spring an irony about their greatest gadget CCTV surveillance. Very literally, London has an eye on everyone.

Ever since 9/11 and the terrorist roundup at Heathrow in '06 England has cracked down on security measures within their grand cities, and sleepy hamlets. Rarely can you find a bench to sit on or a garbage can to throw waste in unless you are in a grand park. Most people in train stations and other public transport docks are encouraged to litter due to their heightened employment of garbage pickers (to replace the rubbish bins). As a mostly litter-free Canadian I was guilt-stricken at the idea. The greatest, most expensive, and controversial of these precautions is the CCTV camera which has cost the government over 200 million pounds! Talk about a safe investment.

Although on the other hand, many critics and citizens are skeptical of this camera which acts as the overlord of national security. Many studies show that even though their cameras can catch criminals, it has not stopped the rate of crime nearly as much as it should. People are beginning to debate whether it was a good idea to begin with, and many are scared rather than feeling secure.

In the North, the Scottish have also begun installing the cameras but have been reviewing the issue of their expenses. Many believe that the sheer expense should go into recruiting more police officers rather than just street eyes.

I feel the argument to put money into hiring more able-bodied police would be much more effective that throwing money at cameras that can only observe in a kind of 'we'll catch them later' kind of system. Let's get more cops on the streets and less bureaucrats watching us do our grocery runs.
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