Number of privately-owned CCTVs in Britain is 70 times more than govt.-run cameras
A new study has found that the number of privately-owned CCTV surveillance cameras is 70 times more than the number of cameras run by the UK government itself.
The study commissioned by the British Security Industry Association (BSIA) also revealed that there are almost 6 million surveillance cameras actively watching people going all around, the Evening Standard reported.
According to the study the British police and authorities have some 70,000 cameras running which makes Å“perhaps only 1.2 to 1.7 percent” of the overall number of CCTV cameras in the UK.
The study claims to Å“represent one of the most comprehensive attempts to assess the extent of CCTV use” and uses Å“complex calculations” based on available information, the report said.
The BSIA study puts the number of cameras in Britain something between 4.1?million and just over 5.9?million, and it stresses that an exact number is impossible to determine.
Previous reports dating back to 2006 and 2011 estimated the number to be as large as 4.2 million and as little as 1.85 million.
According to the research, cameras that are in public control include more than 10,000 CCTV units installed by the police and some 60,000 more controlled by local authorities across Britain.
The London Tube network alone has 13,000 cameras, with an average of 52 cameras per station. The study estimates that between 290,000 and 370,000 cameras are run by state schools.
But the majority of surveillance cameras in Britain are privately owned. The study claims that some 2.7?million CCTV cameras are owned by private businesses and individuals.
The research found that the reasons surrounding the use of private cameras include the protection of property, crime detection, and safety.
The studyâ„¢s conclusions challenge the UKâ„¢s popular image as a Å“Big Brother” state, claiming that such notions are Å“misplaced.” Instead, its authors believe the lack of regulation governing privately run cameras is a bigger concern for Britain, and have called for establishing rules to enforce Å“better standards.” There are currently no rules governing the use of private CCTV cameras.
MOL/HE
Republished with permission from: Press TV