Royston to get hidden ANPR cameras

Chris570 · Unread post by **Chris570** » 30 Mar 2011, 10:01

http://www.pistonheads.com/news/default ... ryId=23400

What do we think here..

my belief is that its only a matter of time before this kind of thing becomes commonplace and not just used for tracking "known criminals" because with all of that data there already collected its inevitable that it will be used for monitoring/average speed....

although i have no issue with a nationwide anpr system for no insurance/MOT/ Tax checking with police patrols (so you can explain you're driving the car to an MOT test to a person as opposed to a faceless government dept) That i see as a good thing

HDI · Unread post by **HDI** » 30 Mar 2011, 10:31

My default reaction to anything regarding road traffic snooping is suspicion, UK government just cannot be trusted.

Unread post by **Paul-R** » 30 Mar 2011, 11:03

HDI wrote:My default reaction to anything regarding road traffic snooping is suspicion, UK government just cannot be trusted.

Agree totally except that it's not just the UK governemnt!

MikeT · Unread post by **MikeT** » 30 Mar 2011, 11:46

They're installing "hidden" cameras and a spokesman said the public who "who have nothing to hide, have nothing to fear".

Implies, and correctly IMO, that we need to fear those running the system.

It's flouted as being a tool to track "criminals". Presumably these criminals they're targeting have to be honest enough to register their car correctly and not use fake plates etc? Makes me feel safe from crime already!

Xaccers · Unread post by **Xaccers** » 30 Mar 2011, 12:17

Not bothered, there are already loads of ANPR cameras around, unlike speed cameras they actually do a proper job of catching criminals.
As for the gov, I trust this lot more than the last bunch of voyeurs. It's the police I don't trust, there have been numerous cases of abuse of powers and corruption (of which I have personal experience) or incompetance which have led to justice being denied.
However, I have yet to hear of anything like that relating to ANPR devices, speed guns yes, where one copper and his colleages fudged it to get someone he disliked convicted of speeding when they weren't.

citronut · Unread post by **citronut** » 30 Mar 2011, 13:16

i might be a tad sinical but i thought they had/were installing ANPR at all main road junctions/traffic lights already,

i dont trust any member of parliment they are all as bed as each other,

is it just one of them been put inside fir fiddling, ( sacrificial lamb and all that)

besides i belive we aint controled by the lot in this country anyway they are just puppets,

i also belive the police are controled by the bloated blutacrats at the top,

were'z me put that soap box

regards malcolm

Unread post by **Paul-R** » 30 Mar 2011, 13:46

I just heard this lunchtime on the news that the speed cameras in Oxfordshire are going to be switched back on again.

No idea who'll be paying for the running costs (I reached my destination) but I'll take a guess that they'll be funded by the fines levied.

Chris570 · Unread post by **Chris570** » 30 Mar 2011, 13:58

Paul-R wrote:I just heard this lunchtime on the news that the speed cameras in Oxfordshire are going to be switched back on again.

No idea who'll be paying for the running costs (I reached my destination) but I'll take a guess that they'll be funded by the fines levied.

iirc it was the police footing the bill for that

DickieG · Unread post by **DickieG** » 30 Mar 2011, 16:11

I wouldn't worry about ANPR cameras as at the rate that at which front line Police numbers are presently being reduced, very soon there won't be any Police Officers left to enforce anything.

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 30 Mar 2011, 19:22

DickieG wrote: very soon there won't be any Police Officers left to enforce anything.

But the cameras will... All 'enforcement' via camera can be done without a human even lifting a finger thanks to IT...

I'm with Xac on this one... If the ANPR cameras catch up with uninsured/untaxed/unMOT'd vehicles and their owners are properly brought to book then good. I'm all for it..

If you run a legal car and you're legal yourself then ANPR is no bad thing.

Having said that, a few old-school Rozzers on the prowl beat any sort of camera hands-down for getting to grips with the worst danger of all: the kind of dangerous, lunatic driving we see every day but no enforcement cameras can see and act upon...

addo · Unread post by **addo** » 30 Mar 2011, 20:25

Passive enforcement only taxes minor offenders and the lax/disorganised.

Then the wording of legislation usually is changed to pass the "burden of proof" to the defendant - this being due to the large number of potential challenges to a prosecution (many upon traditionally fair grounds).

Unlike a police car patrolling with the crew's eyes and ears open, the covert devices have no means to apprehend (say) a speeding stolen car full of stolen goods, that will shortly be dumped and set alight.

citronut · Unread post by **citronut** » 30 Mar 2011, 20:37

unless they ZAPP it with several thousand volts, isnt that what the yanks do,

on top of being caught they will face a big repair bill for the electronics on there car being frazled, thats if it was there car in the first place,

regards malcolm

Unread post by **myglaren** » 30 Mar 2011, 21:17

I have read that they are popular in Czechoslovakia - for about ten minutes - until the Czechs blow them up.

DickieG · Unread post by **DickieG** » 30 Mar 2011, 21:45

CitroJim wrote:
DickieG wrote: very soon there won't be any Police Officers left to enforce anything.
But the cameras will... All 'enforcement' via camera can be done without a human even lifting a finger thanks to IT...

Not entirely and with so many back room staff losing their job's there will be little in the way of enforcement of any laws, hence why all targets for Police detection rates have now been removed

jgra1 · Unread post by **jgra1** » 31 Mar 2011, 12:20

further to Jim's point...

..

the kind of dangerous, lunatic driving we see every day but no enforcement cameras can see and act upon...

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... geway.html

If the police are using evidence from on-board recording devices already, then I guess they will be standard fitment soon

I had better disable gears 3-6 on the motorbike, as 2nd gets it to 90