The expression “if you’ve done nothing wrong you’ve nothing to worry about” is not the answer to legitimate public concern over surveillance. Here are 5 reasons for abandoning the argument once and for all.
Hello! I’m Fraser Sampson, the new Surveillance Camera Commissioner (and Biometrics Commissioner too). I came into post on 1 March and with so much going on in both the world of surveillance and biometrics, I’m sure the next few weeks and months are going to be busy, but I think this is an exciting time and I’m looking forward to the road ahead.
Earlier this year I sent a survey to LAs in England and Wales to gain a better understanding as to the extent to which they were complying with their statutory responsibilities arising from Section 33(1) of the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 (PoFA) and the Surveillance Camera Code of Practice, in connection with their use of overt surveillance camera systems in public places.
In this blog the Commissioner looks at how surveillance is being used during the COVID-19 pandemic and what lessons could be learnt for the future of overt surveillance.
This blog is the first in a short series of blogs from the Commissioner looking back over the six years he has held the post.
The way overt surveillance cameras are being used is changing. Should there be an independent review looking at how they are used?
Video Surveillance Systems are operated by most Local Authorities in England and Wales and are intrinsically linked with operational policing to protect the public and ensure their safety. So how effective are they and is the cost of installing and operating those systems really worth it?
Hello, my name is Dr Rachel Adams and I’m an Early Career Researcher with the Information Law and Policy Centre, Institute for Advanced Legal Studies, University of London. I’m also a member of the Surveillance Camera Commissioner’s Automatic Number Plate Recognition Independent …
Regular readers of my blog will know that the Home Office published their Biometric Strategy in June and in doing so established a new board (which I sit on) to develop that strategy. A key challenge for me in participating …
There’s been a lot of focus recently in the press about the potential mass intrusion of surveillance cameras and I’ve recently blogged myself about CCTV in taxis and the use of automatic facial recognition technology. These are big ticket items …