Crackdown on 'Big Brother' camera network for our roads after Home Secretary orders review

A review into the use of ANPR cameras is long overdue - and we don't expect them to be removed.

The police are now in charge and they don't want this to happen.

It's NOT about finding/tracking terrorists but about following ordinary people. NuLiebore just wanted control and the Coalition may think it's too good to give up.

Incredible that they were installed in the first place.

** I was going to comment on the decision to remove secret cameras which monitor the Muslim population of Birmingham. I've decided not to get embroiled in this one. Again, the cameras shouldn't have been put up and they are offensive. But they are offensive to all members of the population.

Read the ANPR story from the Daily Mail below.

Captain Gatso

Police face restrictions on the use of a 'Big Brother' network of thousands of cameras tracking up to 14million motorists a day.

The controversial Automatic Number Plate Recognition system takes photographs of car number plates, allowing officers to follow individual vehicles for hundreds of miles.

All details are logged on a central database, which has 7.6million records of the movements of motorists tracked by more than 4,000 cameras across the country.

Read more

Why the Police in the UK do not respect freedom or democracy

People keep telling me that I'm wrong on the Police State UK.

But the evidence keeps piling up. The problem is that the rozzers either don't understand the law - or keep on making it up as they go along.

Here are two cases from this week alone which illustrate why these clowns can do what they do without EVER being sacked.

Democracy? Bring it - it should make for a nice change in this country.

Case number 1:
Read how the police overstep the mark and then push a 15-year-old down some steps because he - RIGHTLY - tries to tell them what the law is: Journalism and this Hackney news site.

Here's the best bit for me:

Director of Big Brother Watch Alex Deane told Journalism.co.uk it would support Mattsson in any future cases against the police.

"Some officers think that anti-terror legislation gives them blanket powers to hassle people whenever they want," he says. "This case is a very bad example of that. Confronted by bullying policemen, acting entirely outside their powers, this young man admirably stood up for himself and rightly maintained that he was entitled to take pictures in a public place. The police should apologise immediately and admit that they were in the wrong."

Case number 2:
Journalists win payout after police admit failing to respect press freedom - The Guardian

Watch this idiot in action. They really don't care about freedoms do they? Can they really believe it's always 'us and them'. At this rate it soon will be.

Captain Gatso

How the police can save a fortune - without sacking officers

I see that today the funding of police forces comes into the searchlight.

As we have said before at speedaholics (mainly on the blog) the police don't need to be running around in top-of-the-range cars.

Why does an Inspector need a fancy BMW?

At one point on Speedaholics we actually gave details of the luxury cars and their number plates which were spotted in the police station car parks.

It might be worth doing this again just to underline how the police waste their resources.

Let's not feel too bad for them - times have been good under Labour.

Unheard of new powers; the biggest police force in history; the biggest overtime budget EVER and a crass approach to dealing with the public as 'the enemy'.

It's going to take the police service years to put right the damage they have caused in their relationship between them and the public.

As motorists we are pleased to see their wallets being attacked without any recourse to whether it's right or wrong.

Now you know how the general public feels.

Captain Gatso

Police secretly photographing 14million motorists a day and storing images for two years

The police state we call the UK really is a sad place to live.

The Daily Mail has an interesting story - and I'm pleased to see that Liberty say this is an illegal database.

No lawmaker has been involved with the police compiling this horrendous database.

Will they stop sending our images to the computer? Under Nu Liebore? What do you think?

Captain Gatso
The Motorists Friend

Police are secretly photographing up to 14million motorists a day and keeping their details for years, it has emerged. Images of drivers and their front seat passengers are being captured by a network of cameras and held on a database without their knowledge, a police document has revealed.

Now police chiefs are facing a legal challenge from privacy campaigners, who say that automatic number plate recognition cameras are being used to spy on innocent road users.

Police and the Highways Agency have previously claimed that ANPR cameras on the roads do not transmit images of drivers.

Read the rest.

1 in 1,800 speeding cops get speeding tickets

You don't really need me to comment on the story in today's Sun: Gatso let-off for speeding cops.
I've made plain on this blog several times that one of the best ways to avoid a speeding ticket is to wear a uniform.
No surprise that *all* of the investigated cases were of police on emergency calls. Nice work!
It would be nice to find out just how many OFF DUTY police officers are let off.
Now that really would be a story.

Capt Gatso
The Motorists Friend

More evidence of police state Britain

I've been trying to flag up for a long time that we in the UK live in a police state. The police are simply beyond justice.
just to underline what is going on, go to this Guardian story and watch the video (actually it's police surveillance footage which makes it even worse).
It's taken a while to get here - but leaving someone in custody for FOUR days because she asked a copper for his number?
Come on. That cannot be right (and PC Dickhead, you have to give someone your number if they ask for it).
I'm bewildered. We have an unelected Prime Minsiter who is doing a shambles of a job with a cabinet stuffed with unelected cronies.
Have I lost the plot?

Captain Gatso

Cops lie about speeding

Well, who would have thought it? Here is proof that the police tell lies to avoid speed tickets.

Here at Motorists Against Detection we have long held the belief that to avoid tickets you need to be wearing a uniform. And here in today's Sun is a story about two top boys saying they were working when they were they weren't,

Congratulations to Surrey Police for investigating cops flouting of traffic laws. It's long over due but.....

WHEN WILL MORE FORCES START TO CLAMPDOWN ON THIS?

Here's The Sun story:

TWO top cops were suspended yesterday on allegations of speeding and running red lights on private trips — while claiming to be on police work.

Surrey Police Chief Superintendent Adrian Harper and Superintendent Johnny Johncox could face criminal charges.

Investigators from the Independent Police Complaints Commission asked the Crown Prosecution Service to investigate if any criminal offences may have been committed.

The suspensions come as part of a probe into cops flouting traffic laws — then allegedly dodging their fine by signing forms claiming that they were on police business.

Surrey Police confirmed there were allegations of “dishonest conduct”.

Captain Gatso

Gatso nets £1m in just five months

Various camera partnerships, the Government and police keep trying to tell us that speed cameras are not about fleecing motorists.
But look at these figures - released under Freedom of Information and not willingly handed over - and think carefully.
What is the real issue here? If it is speeders going through roadworks causing such a problem then for God's sake get police patrols out and enforce the speed limit with tickets and 'words of advice'.
Or is it because there is an issue with signposting (a regular problem for people running cameras at roadworks) for so many people to be caught.
Whatever the answer it's simply ridiculous that so many drivers have had tickets issued.
On top of this it's also revealed that six other temporary camera sites together raked in £2.2million.
They were: the M1 in Mill Hill, North London (£616,000); A2 in Cobham, Kent (£397k); A40 in Denham, West London (£374k); A550 in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire (£368k); Junction 6 of the M62, Merseyside (£368k) and M1 near Rotherham, South Yorks (£71k).
This must be a topic for debate. So let's have it.
A GATSO installed to snare drivers racing through roadworks on a commuter route issued £1million of tickets in FIVE MONTHS.
The temporary speed camera snared 16,213 speeders — more than 100 a day.
Most would have been fined £60 — £973,000 in all — and faced three penalty points.
The camera was installed during a temporary 30mph limit on a 50mph section of the A316 in Hanworth, South West London — a commuter route into and out of the capital via the M3.

Read The Sun story


Captain Gatso

More speed cameras planned for UK roads

This is simply unbelievable. OK so the country is skint but do we really need more Government cash-making machines by the road side.
The funniest part about this new plan is that the Govt wants to create the safest roads in the world 'within 10 years'. Errr, it's probably passed your attention but until Zanu Labour came to power we did have the world's safest roads.
But what the hell - drivers are now facing more points and fines for motoring 'offences'.
And to introduce these 'time over distance' cameras is going to cause riots - if you don't crack down on uninsured, unregistered and unlicensed drivers first. See later.
There's a crack down on drink and drug driving - with random breath testing becoming more common - which is to be welcomed. I doubt that this means more police on our roads.
However, drivers are facing a ban after only two speeding offences with penalty points being doubled to six points for drivers who exceed the speed limit by 15mph in a 20mph or 30mph area, or by 20mph in higher speed zones.
Apparently, there's more action against uninsured and unlicensed drivers also set to be introduced. I doubt this will be that big - it's politically fraught since so many of the unlicensed drivers are immigrants.
I have had, and I mean this literally, enough of this Zanu Labour crap.
Just remember there's an election next year.
Read more.

Captain Gatso
The Motorists Friend

Police smart cars aren't so smart

I keep trying to flag up to various people that we are now living in a police state. This story from the Daily Mail illustrates again just how close to total control we are getting.

You won't know you have committed a crime until a fine lands on your door mat. It's about raising cash - try to contest one of these fines and see how far you get.

Democracy? Forget it. Privacy? Long gone. Stalinst state. Hello.

Big Brother row as police force starts using Google camera cars to fine wayward drivers

Police are taking a leaf out of Google's book with their latest weapon in the war on motorists. They are using cars with spy cameras on a mast.

Drivers talking on their mobile phones, eating, applying make-up or otherwise driving illegally will be pictured.

And as the telescopic cameras can zoom in from some distance, the first inkling that they have been snapped could be when a £60 fine lands on the doorstep.

Police say the new cars – similar to those used by Google to map town and city streets – will help reduce road deaths.

But motorists say the Big Brother vehicles will merely be another cash cow for the Government and a further 'tax' on hard-pressed motorists.

Two Smart cars are pioneering the scheme in Greater Manchester, where distracted motorists are said to have caused more than 400 accidents in the past two years, killing or seriously injuring 25 victims.

Drivers who are caught using their mobiles will be sent a £60 fine and will have three penalty points on their licence.

Those caught on camera without a seatbelt or driving erratically while eating will be fined £30. Anyone who refuses to accept a fine – which will go into Treasury coffers – could be hauled before the courts.

Karen Delaney from DriveSafe, the road safety group behind the latest scheme, said: 'Many vehicles are now better equipped than offices or homes, with the latest technology in satellite navigation, telecommunications and state-of-the-art music systems all to hand.

'Add in other distractions such as complex dashboard instrumentation, a hot cup of coffee and a conversation with other vehicle occupants, and it is no wonder that some drivers are not paying attention.'

She added: 'The Smart enforcement vehicles are fully police liveried and working in areas where our data analysis has identified a high occurrence of "driver distraction" collisions and where officers have regularly observed offences being committed.'

Nigel Humphries, from the Association of British Drivers, said: 'This is a total infringement. They might as well put something in cars to test what drivers are thinking – to see if they are concentrating on the road or thinking about something else.

'Apart from that it's going to be counter-productive. There's no excuse for not having police officers watching the road to look out for motorists who are driving erratically.'

Peter Roberts, from the Drivers' Alliance, said: 'People shouldn't be using mobile phones when they are driving in the car, especially handheld ones. But I am not comfortable with spy cameras which can see into your car and see what you are doing. 'The old-fashioned type of policing where coppers are sitting by the side of the road watching people go past to see if they are using a mobile is a far better way of doing things.'

Captain Gatso

Police told not to police

This is an outrageous story which was sent to me by a serving officer (Yes, they do read this blog and are very supportive. Er, generally, of what I am trying to say). You will be reading about this in the nation's media.

Basically, a senior traffic officer friend of mine who works out of the 'Empire State Building' in London forwarded me on yesterday a lovely email stating in great detail how they are not to police many traffic misdemeaners such as no entry and no left turns - in fact a long list of traffic violations.

It's so that TfL and the local councils can start scooping up the revenue from a £100 ticket which is sent to the registered keeper every time they are seen committing an offence.

In extreme circumstances 'words of advice' may be offered to the errant drivers.

This is another case of us moving towards a police state, governed by camera and Big Brother spies. A police state is a corrupt state. So here we are again with legitimate, law abiding people getting hammered. Because you won't find those who don't register their cars, foreign drivers and those with false plates being at all concerned about this move.

Clearly, it's all about the money. Police officers have a discretion to issue words of advice, vehicle rectification certificate, a fine or a fine and points in certain cases.

However this is purely about getting the cash in to the council's coffers.

But also remember that when police officers stop people for small traffic infringments that they often find other evidence of criminal activities or intent.

So I send this message to the new Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson - this is not a good start to your job. Must try harder. And you MUST re-invest some money into your depleting road traffic police within London.

To everyone outside of the capital: remember that where London leads other councils will follow. This is the thin end of the wedge.

Wee Gordon's pouting costs taxpayers dearly

Nice to read that the great idea of moving Cabinet meetings around the country wasn't as slick as we had imagined.
Firstly, it's been done to boost Gordon's image but, sadly, the trip to Leeds last year cost around £200,000 with policing costing £138,000.
The first one in Birmingham cost around £62,000 says Gordon but he didn't add in the coppers' costs.
The next one is in Liverpool on Thursday so hopefully they might work out who is paying the police bill - and hopefully it's not the council taxpayers.
This is a political gimmick and we shouldn't have to be saddled with any costs.
No-one cares about the Cabinet. They are all remote and self-serving so trying to change peoples' opinions won't do a lot for them.

Police set to step up hacking of home PCs

There's a story in today's Sunday Times which underlines the sinister intentions of Zanu Labour and the EU - the hacking of home PCs by the police without a warrant.

Why on earth would they want to do that?

Apparently, the Home Office has quietly adopted a new plan to allow police across Britain routinely to hack into people’s personal computers without a warrant.

The move, which follows a decision by the European Union’s council of ministers in Brussels, has angered civil liberties groups and opposition MPs. They described it as a sinister extension of the surveillance state which drives “a coach and horses” through privacy laws.

The hacking is known as “remote searching”. It allows police or MI5 officers who may be hundreds of miles away to examine covertly the hard drive of someone’s PC at his home, office or hotel room.

Material gathered in this way includes the content of all e-mails, web-browsing habits and instant messaging.

It also means, as I have been flagging up, that Britons can now be arrested for something which isn't a crime here but is in, say, Greece. This is the thin end of a very, very thick wedge.

We are now, officially, living in a police superstate.

Speeding laws need a new direction

There's a really good article in today's Daily Telegraph.

I like this bit:

However, ministers should be aware that these reforms will not restore the reputation of our speeding laws. The purpose of such law should be to improve the safety of our roads.
Instead, it is widely perceived as a cynical revenue earner, particularly in the bailiwicks of our more zealous chief constables.
End result? The law is no longer respected (and confidence in the police has suffered as a result).
How else can one explain the fact that an estimated 40 per cent of the nation's motorists - about 12 million Britons - have penalty points on their licences?
Only when road traffic laws are once again perceived to be about road safety, not a thinly disguised tax on the motorist, will drivers start respecting them again.

The rest is here: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/main.jhtml?xml=/opinion/2008/11/21/dl2101.xml

With this government it's not so much about the carrot and stick approach to dealing with speeding drivers (and we can include members of the cabinet here) but more of a stick and stick approach.

My idea was that while the government punishes and takes away, why don't they give back? Look at how drivers can win back points on their licence instead of them hating speed cameras because they take away livelihoods.

Extending speed cameras is just policing by Robocop. You don't catch bad drivers, drink drivers or unlicensed drivers.

To reassure people that we aren't being taxed simply because we drive the government has to think again about what it can do.

People are taught to drive for their conditions and surroundings. Excessive speed in dangerous situations in just crazy and those drivers should be penalised.

But the government is clamping down on drivers with DECADES of accident-free motoring behind them. Are they really danger drivers who deserve to be banned from the road?

I think not but common sense has sadly been lacking from this argument since Labour came to power.

CG
http://captaingatso.net/