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Police order pubs to 'spy' on customers with CCTV
Ellen Widdup18 Feb 2009
PUBS are being told to "spy" on customers with CCTV, it emerged today.
Pub owners who have applied for a licence both in Islington and Richmond have been warned that they must first install cameras.
Publicans also have to promise to hand over to the police any footage requested. Experts said that the plan raises "serious privacy concerns" but police claim it will help to fight crime.
David Smith, the deputy information commissioner, said: "Installing surveillance in pubs to combat specific problems of rowdiness and bad behaviour may be lawful, but blanket measures where there is no history of criminal activity is likely to breach data protection requirements."
A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: "Boroughs may impose blanket rules to prevent crime and disorder."
Other forces are adopting similar tactics. Martin Reed, a licensing officer for Essex Police, said that the force asks every licensed premises in the county which is open after 11pm to have cameras to take head shots of customers entering the building.
Reader views (20)
Orwell, police state, dead right and we allowed it to happen.
Omly we cannot take pictures of the police, is that right? This has gone too far to stop, the government have an addiction to spying on its serfs.
- Mandyv, cambs, 19/02/2009 17:07
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Coming next ...colon mounted camera's so that Jacqui can see what you have been snacking on. "If it stops one terrorist scoffing a cheesy panini then it will be worth it". Mind you I pity the plod collecting the daily VHS tapes.
Honestly though this has to stop. We need a Government OF the people not a Government OVER the people. Time for this clapped out bunch of freaks, has beens, never was', and control freaks to hit the road! ELECTION NOW!
- Ethan, UK, 19/02/2009 09:22
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This is a great idea. Connect them all up to the internet, then I drink cheap supermarket beer at home and still have the atmosphere of my local!
- Martin H. Watson, teddington, 19/02/2009 09:09
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It's not the declared intention behind the CCTV cameras - its the abuse of the information that will inevitably follow that is wrong. Like night follows day, the authorities will find ways of using what they have in ways that were never envisaged by the originators of the various 'good ideas', there for 'the benefit of law-abiding people'. Britain is already known as the most heavily watched population in the world (I'll gloss over the fact that this surveillance has done little to curb crime despite the cost and the wall-to-wall cameras) - and now they want more?
"Honest people have nothing to worry about" - but so say all dictators. What they mean is "the meek and the compliant have less to worry about".
- Rogan, Irving, 19/02/2009 05:17
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Had em for a while in some pubs as a condition of licence.They can't bear not knowing what is going on can they.People talk about a police state,but it comes to something when the ex head of MI5 confirms it!
- Shaun, leeds, 19/02/2009 00:10
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We are moving ever closer to a Police State. Is there nobody in Parliament willing to stop these Gestapo cloned Police thugs?
- Joe Jones, Leicester UK, 18/02/2009 21:14
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This clearly has nothing to do with Crime Detection, this is surveillance as many of the new CCTV Cameras are all fitted with microphones. Hence you dare to enter a Public house you are setting yourself up as a target for New Nazi Labour Police Force.
- Carl Barron, Christchurch, Dorset, 18/02/2009 19:46
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with around 5 pubs a day closing for a myriad of reasons,
many of which stem from government and council dictates,
this is just what's needed to aid their recovery.
how long have pubs been around?
now in the space of a decade our elected leaders and
those they choose to hive off power to have killed off
the centres of community and social cohesion for so many.
what they are really after is a tame electorate that
stays home and is no threat to the extreme threat of
draconian government. they are our servents, let not
the tail wag the dog.
- M.O'Brien, london.uk, 18/02/2009 19:44
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Police have to do what they are told by a private company - The Association of Chief Police officers, oh yes,a private company staffed by serving and retired officers - democracy, local accountability - gone control is now in the hands of these powerful people. As an ex soldier nothing frightens me more than the enemy within. Those that say nothing to fear, should think on, the powers they enjoy now will grow with time. The police are supposed to be a civil service not a body empowered. Chief constables should be elected civilians, before it is too late.
- Wills, Soton, 18/02/2009 19:22
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This is absolutely disgusting. It is high time that someone sensible took control of the police. I am sure more and more people do not support them.
- William, London, 18/02/2009 18:48
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Absolutely outrageous, people should take a stand and boycott every public house which enters into any such agreement with the police/local council - the breweries would not tolerate the resulting financial impact for very long.
- Cassie, Kent Uk, 18/02/2009 18:23
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It might be more effective to inspect the finances of wealthy immigrants from the country we are at war with - Afghanistan - and try to figure out how nearly 100% of heroin from that country arrives in Britain (according to today's BBC1 mid-day news). Strangely enough these people probably aren't sitting in the local Wetherspoons discussing people smuggling, drug importing, money laundering, or suicide bombings.
- Real, London, 18/02/2009 18:22
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This has nothing to do with crime, seriously how can this nation be so stupid. Cameras and listening devices in schools as young as 4yr old - really lots of terrorists there and in pubs - of course terrorists are going to discuss their aims in a pub, get real. This is Labour left wing big wanting to have an iron grip on the nation and nothing more - big brother Britain, if they want to tone down crime then get cops on the beat in greater numbers especially in problem areas, after a few months it will bring a lot of calm back to the streets.
- Andy, Carlisle, 18/02/2009 15:45
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Police nanny state run amok
- Trunk, US, 18/02/2009 14:51
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The usual Government rubbish of helping to fight crime.
How will it help fight crime when a lot of police are sitting on their backsides in the station, doing loads of paperwork etc, instead of out on the streets.
Considering the low conviction rate and how ineffective the CPS is, it would be better to replace it.
- Ralph, GB, 18/02/2009 14:21
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Personally I feel safer if a pub does have CCTV.
"pub" is short for PUBLIC house: it's a public place like a street, and therefore CCTV is reasonable. If one has private business to conduct, take it to a private place like a private residence, business, or hotel room.
There are many far worse privacy invasions than CCTV cameras. CCTV images only get watched if a crime takes place, and even then it is probable that no-one watching knows you from Adam. Otherwise they are erased, un-watched. In contrast an ID card makes a permanent record of you being at every place/time where you are forced to use it. It's ID cards that threaten our liberty, not CCTV.
- Nigel, London, 18/02/2009 13:13
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Why?Everyone knows the young scum roam the streets.They've grown out of killing by the time they can afford to enter a public house legally.
- Steve, London, 18/02/2009 13:05
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Wasnt it stated a long time ago that the police were going to start sending undercover officers into pubs just to eavesdrop on drinkers? What the hell for??
If the police want to catch criminals just get out on the streets and catch all the knife&gun gangs and leave relatively law-abiding people alone.
Maybe I am missing something here, pub-goers are easy-pickings, whereas the very real problem of streetcrime is either too much for our police or the police have orders from on high not to make streetcrime a priority.
Why I wonder?
P.S in my local we have a so-called "undercover" officer who keeps asking people(oh-so-innocently and inconspicuously)about lawbreaking. All the while crime is happening openly&blatantly on the streets outside.
- Russell, London, 18/02/2009 12:00
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Quote - "police claim it will help to fight crime". It won't.
- Steve.W, B'ham UK, 18/02/2009 11:48
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So now you can't have a drink without being filmed.
- P Staker, London, 18/02/2009 11:46
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