Nice essay, Dawg, and I'd have to say I agree 100%. You should send it over to Glenn Reynolds at InstaPundit, he is very much on your side on matters like this (if you can handle the InstaLanch.
We are having trouble with graffiti, vandalism and trash dumping in our neighbourhood, and are debating the need for cameras. Yes, some might say you are losing privacy (in public?), but good neighbours can't be home all the time.
Jaysus, I have to stop skimming...re: Reynolds...seriously, I'm taking a break cleaning my camera. Yeah, that's my excuse...
No harm, no foul, James--I sent the URL over to him to take a look.
"using urban equipment for uses other than those intended."
next time i go to the park i'm takin a shit at the base of a statue, or something.
Of course the police should be scrutinized by the citizenry, but c'mon, this is the police and they are a lot more powerful than me or my vigilant citizens' group dedicating one lunchtime a week to patroling parks with cameras. Dr. Dawg, who in your group takes the 3:00 am shift? I think I'll keep those individual privacy rights of mine a while longer, thank-you very much.
This really is a thorny issue without easy answers. But what I can't figure out is why we are all so freaked by surveillance cameras but reassured by police on community foot patrol keeping an eye on everything? And why are the police similarly freaked in return?
Great post, Dawg. I grow more impressed with each new essay you post.
Peter,
I'm actually in favour more more than citizens with cameras. Some police forces now have videocameras in their patrol cars. That's a good start.
Good grief. It's troubling that police could write a ticket for "using urban equipment for uses other than those intended" let alone that they did.
A nice jumping off point for a thoughtful post.
I don't like surveillance cameras owned by the state simply because the state has significant data mining capacity and I have no choice but to walk down city streets. Plus, and I am too busy to get the stats, in England - one of the most heavily videoed nations on earth, there has been no drop at all in the crime statistics.
Meanwhile, I am a huge fan of the citizens taking pictures and videos of police action of any sort. I use my cell camera for this once in a while. When the Victoria cops are rousting a street person they behave better if they hear the sound of a shutter.
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