austin
Well-Known Member
Did anyone else read about the ANPR cameras in the weekend papers? I knew police cars had them and used them to catch the uninsured/taxed/wanted etc. What I didn't realise is that there are also hundreds of them all around the country silently photographing every vehicle that passes and retaining the photo (or the relevant data from the photo like reg no. date, time, direction of travel, occupants) for two years "just in case". This all came to light because the police want to keep the data for 7 years, again "just in case". I assume that police car you see at the side of the road apparently doing nothing may be doing just the same.
Now if you have nothing to hide then there is in theory not a lot to worry about, but this really is the stuff of the "police state" as your movements around the country are no business of the police/state without reasonable grounds for tracking you. Even worse your innocent movements could match the profile of terrorists or criminals leading to further investigation and possibly arrest. Its not good.
On another note.....a few years ago one the political parties had a conference in Blackpool. Each and every road into Blackpool had a gantry installed with some very fancy cameras on them that were apparently tied into the ANPR system and to some face recognition software looking for known criminals and terrorists. Once spotted there we other cameras that could track their movement.
It really is getting a bit Big Brotherish here.
Now if you have nothing to hide then there is in theory not a lot to worry about, but this really is the stuff of the "police state" as your movements around the country are no business of the police/state without reasonable grounds for tracking you. Even worse your innocent movements could match the profile of terrorists or criminals leading to further investigation and possibly arrest. Its not good.
On another note.....a few years ago one the political parties had a conference in Blackpool. Each and every road into Blackpool had a gantry installed with some very fancy cameras on them that were apparently tied into the ANPR system and to some face recognition software looking for known criminals and terrorists. Once spotted there we other cameras that could track their movement.
It really is getting a bit Big Brotherish here.