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Police Google the West End
Peter Dominiczak7 May 2009
Police are to use technology pioneered by Google Street View in a bid to cut crime in the capital.
Westminster police, part of the Met, have spent £150,000 to equip a converted Mercedes van with closed circuit television cameras, recording equipment and LCD screens to monitor street crime in the West End.
The converted car is reminiscent of the vehicle Google modified to photograph streets all over the country. The police's new vehicle also offers 360-degree coverage.
Reader views (9)
Roz - I think George Orwells refrence to 1984 may have been a nod towards the idea of 'Big Brother.'
- Ben, W1, London, 07/05/2009 22:07
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Not a single 'Big Brother' comment: am I the only person who thinks it's yet more evidence of a Police State? They can spy on you, but they aren't there as a deterrant nor to help if something happens; they over-react to lawful protest yet ignore burglar alarms; they can keep your DNA indefinitely without charging you, but they can conceal their own identity by removing a flimsy lapel.
Great cause to be worried, I'd have said.
- Roz, France, 07/05/2009 15:07
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The article forgot to mention the van colouring as well - presumably to avoid giving too much away. Just because the thugs and other ne'er do wells do dumb things it doesn't mean they are entirely incapable of putting two and two together and watching out for stray Mercedes or other vans in their patch.
- Rogan, Irving, 07/05/2009 14:39
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And what do they do if those filming witness a crime...stay stuck in their van and call for assistance!...wow what a good idea.
- Rosie, watford, 07/05/2009 14:32
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Has anyone read my book, 1984?
- George Orwell, London, 07/05/2009 13:21
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We desperately need the police to "google" into Westminster and flush out all the dishonest cabinet ministers who are furnishing "second" homes at tax payers' expense.
- R.F., Yorks, UK, 07/05/2009 12:52
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Here's a novel idea. Why not patrol the streets on foot using two eyes and a rotating neck?
- Bloke, London, 07/05/2009 12:31
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In hackney where we have lots of cctv the youths causing problems ie shooting and stabbing people now hang about in the parks, open spaces, canal paths etc where there is no cctv
- W Atching, london UK, 07/05/2009 10:56
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what happened to the much vaunted cctv cameras which was supposed to make the west end safer.
- Mikeee, peterborough uk, 07/05/2009 09:42
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