More CCTV = more freedom

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The idea

As a local councillor, I am besieged with requests for greater protection of residents from anti-social behaviour and petty crime. In order to protect the civil liberties of law abiding citizens, many in social housing, I would like to see unnecessary restrictions on the extension of CCTV systems removed, so that this useful device which aids residents and neighbourhood police teams in deterring and combating crime and ASB could be brought into much wider use, thus enhancing the freedom of ordinary people and their families. I'd also like to give ordinary citizens full access to CCTV recordings, so that they could help police identify perpetrators, particularly where the fear exists that the perpetrators could intimidate those who seek help from the police, their local authoritiy, or their social landlord.

Why is it important?

The freedom from the fear of crime is one of the most important civil liberties. That fear disables many people from particpating fully in their community – they are reluctant to leave their homes for social and cultural activties. It is a fear which strikes at the heart of attenpts by many decent people to change the the neighbourhoods in which they live. More CCTV is vital to the rebuilding of a vibrant civil society – it goes along with the extension of neighbourhood policing and the idea that communities need to take greater responsiblity – the big society.

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