Drones to watch over UK streets

Drones, similar to those used in Afghanistan could be soon watching over British streets, according to to a National Police Air Service director.

Superintendent Richard Watson stated that they could have been deployed during the Olympic Games but had not yet proved to be cost-effective for widespread use.

Watson said: "I think we missed an opportunity with the Olympics. But there is an opportunity to do things differently. Until we start to ask the questions, we will always think the same way.

“I see unmanned systems as part of the future. There is an aircraft over London all the time — every day, giving images back. Why does it need to be a very expensive helicopter?

Link

Drone technology appears to be a further step in the direction of big brother is watching.

Earlier this year it was reported that US authorities, including the FBI and police, had been given permission to use surveillance drones (The Telegraph).

Too bad that some think that Orwell's 1984 was an instruction manual, not a warning.

It seems unlikely that drone use will not be widespread soon, if indeed it is not already.

The biggest problem is that it makes resistance from tyranny one step closer to impossible, if indeed it is not already.

reply to post by ollncasino


Seriously whats the problem they are looking for trouble makers I live in the UK as well lets look at 2 scenarios

1) You are walking along the street with some friends enjoying a night out cctv/drone picks you up the operator has a quick look you are not doing anything wrong watches for a few seconds then looks elsewhere.

2) You are walking along the street with some friends and being a total bunch of D--K HEADS causing problems intimidating people cause trouble etc. You are spotted by cctv/drone and the police are sent to deal with you.

What would you rather have if you were a victim of the idiots in scenario 2

reply to post by wmd_2008


you better hope their nice and wide interpretation of trouble maker doesn't apply to you.
have you ever heard of privacy or innocent until proven guilty?

reply to post by wmd_2008


I agree with you WMD_2008. I also live in the UK and see this as nothing more than portable CCTV. There is a common misconception that these cameras are watching our every move everywhere we go. Although in theory, yes you could be watched practically all of your outdoor time, the reality is that you are just one of hundreds or thousands of people to be caught on any individual camera in any given day. Unless you are doing something you're not supposed to be doing (i.e criminal activity), then your presence will barely be even acknowledged.

For those that say 'have you ever heard of innocent until proven guilty' etc., that argument doesn't really stand until you have been accused of something. In all my years, I have never been interfered with or accused of anything despite the thousands of CCTV cameras in my city. However, many criminals have been caught red handed.

I'd rather have an almost silent drone overhead looking for car theives than lump of metal that costs hundreds of pounds an hour to fly paid for by public taxes whirring above my house at 4am

When i heard this was going to happen in the states i honestly wasn't interested mainly because it didn't effect me but also because i believed it might be the push the American citizens needed to open their eyes and see the oppression that is closing in. A democratic revolution in the U.S would no doubt ignite the same in Britain and Europe Now hearing this issue affects me worries me greatly as we are an unarmed population we are easier to suppress.......I Fear we are moving ever closer to a 1984 Scenario on a global scale with no hope of the basic rights of freedom and privacy.........

Perhaps it is time to head for the wilderness and abandon civilization altogether.....

Originally posted by Ph03n1x
When i heard this was going to happen in the states i honestly wasn't interested mainly because it didn't effect me but also because i believed it might be the push the American citizens needed to open their eyes and see the oppression that is closing in. A democratic revolution in the U.S would no doubt ignite the same in Britain and Europe Now hearing this issue affects me worries me greatly as we are an unarmed population we are easier to suppress.......I Fear we are moving ever closer to a 1984 Scenario on a global scale with no hope of the basic rights of freedom and privacy.........

Perhaps it is time to head for the wilderness and abandon civilization altogether.....

The riots in the UK last summer proved that we are not at all easy to surpress... and that was mainly just the kids.

Relax

Much as i dont like the idea of drones from a personal point of view, we already have helicopters and widespread cctv coverage, so in that regard BB is already here... some cities even have CCTV with microphones so the operator can "have a word"... not saying it's right but would this change anything?
I think my issue would be with how widespread they are ie: will it simply replace the already fairly widespread 'copters (and the cynic in me expects wider coverage) and the interpretation of people's actions... Similar to what was stated by a poster above tho, i too have never had problems being stopped by police wether due to their patrols, cctv or whatever, and i did engage in some suspicious and nefarious activity as a youngster.
However, i have non-white friends who have had all sort of issues with unwarranted police interferance, and old mates still doing "questionable" activities who will be rightly para about this.

Originally posted by glen200376
reply to post by wmd_2008

 

you better hope their nice and wide interpretation of trouble maker doesn't apply to you.
have you ever heard of privacy or innocent until proven guilty?

Question

1) How does it affect your privacy as everyone one around you at the time could also be looking at you and you wouldn't know it, so do they affect your privacy?

2) Your other comment answers it's self or don't you realise that

reply to post by ollncasino


How exactly did they miss an opportunity during the olympics? Did something happen we do not know about? It seems to me that security was adequate during the games. What is it with these morons and their invasive war toys?

reply to post by wmd_2008

causing problems intimidating people cause trouble etc.

Who's to decide what exactly constitutes "causing trouble"?

It's just the same old mantra of "if you have nothing to hide..."

I shouldn't have to face the possibility of being watched just by walking down the street.

Originally posted by Kram09
reply to post by wmd_2008

 

causing problems intimidating people cause trouble etc.

Who's to decide what exactly constitutes "causing trouble"?

It's just the same old mantra of "if you have nothing to hide..."

I shouldn't have to face the possibility of being watched just by walking down the street.

YES and people should have the right to walk with NO fear along there own streets, whats the problem with watching please explain