Lets settle this "UK is a Police State" rubbish, right now.., page 10

It is worth noting that CCTV cameras across the UK are predominantly either privately owned or operated by the local authorities - which for the benefit of those that do not live here - is funded for locally by council tax.

I imagine that the central government does have some CCTV cameras for either enforcing congestion charging, traffic monitoring and for staging at important government sites.

Six cameras were installed in the city two weeks ago to enable control room staff to speak directly to those behaving anti-socially.

So far 20 people have been warned about dropping rubbish and one man has been given a £75 fixed penalty.

The cameras are on trial for six months to see if they can have an impact.

It has to be noted that anti social behavior is a major problem in the UK. If they are piloting schemes to try to curb this kind of behaviour it is long overdue. See below for info:

Title: A Guide to Anti-social Behaviour Orders and Acceptable Behaviour contracts

Number of pages: 86

Date published: November 2002

Anti-social behaviour has a wide legal definition – to paraphrase the Crime and Disorder Act 1998, it is behaviour which causes or is likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress to one or more people who are not in the same household as the perpetrator. Among the forms it can take are:

graffiti – which can on its own make even the tidiest urban spaces look squalid

abusive and intimidating language, too often directed at minorities

excessive noise, particularly late at night

fouling the street with litter

drunken behaviour in the streets, and the mess it creates

dealing drugs, with all the problems to which it gives rise

Source: Home Office Crime Reduction Partnership

Originally posted by discomfit
Security guards at Welsh assembly buildings in Cardiff Bay were caught turning CCTV cameras onto nearby homes and hotels, it has emerged.

Five employees based in Cardiff Bay received "significant" disciplinary penalties for the misuse of the cameras within the last two years.

Ok, so they abused the system and were punished. How many people use the internet at work? how many of these people get punished? I'm glad you used this example.

Doesn't that illustrate that these CCTV cameras are NOT intended to be used to monitor the population and that they are in fact used to monitor place that may come under some sort of terrorist attack? Which is why the 'cyber-terrorists' were arrested. To conspire to murder people is a crime in the US isn't it? To conspire to blow things up is also a crime in most countries and it doesn't matter if you conspire over the phone, face to face or over the internet. You may not have heard about Guy Fawkes and the gunpowder plot, but were a little jumpy when people say that they are going to blow things up in the UK....especially with all of the terrorist activity in this country at the minute.

the gunpowder plot

I've reached my limit in dealing with your post, hope that satisfies you

Originally posted by mlmijyd
You know what, I'm happy to concede that we don't (normally) have police arresting people in the UK for speaking their mind (although some Anti-G8, Anti-Animal testing protesters may disagree?).

When talking about Anti-animal testing 'protesters' you need to point out what types of protest they use i.e. death threats to scientists etc. If the 'protesters' start attacking the police, they will be rightfully arrested. The police are there to monitor and ensure that it is a peaceful protest. Thats all. When talking about 'Anti-G8 protesters' it is worth noting that most of these have links to anarchist groups. They will also be arrested if the protest becomes anything more than a peaceful march...

Good day all