
Rights group criticises 'Asbo TV' BBC \|\| January 11, 2006 Related - From 2006 Britain will be the first country where every journey by every car will be monitored Civil rights campaigners have voiced concern about a new channel allowing households in east London to monitor local CCTV cameras, dubbed "Asbo TV". The project will enable Shoreditch residents to compare suspicious characters with an on-screen "rogue's gallery" from their living-room. Viewers can then alert police to anyone in breach of an anti-social behaviour order (Asbo) or committing a crime. Asbo Concern said the scheme was a "gimmick" and would be open to abuse. Fear of crime The CCTV channel is part of a Ł12m online community network project being set up in the area under a 10-year government-funded regeneration programme in one of the country's most deprived areas. Article Posted at www.KnowledgeDrivenRevolution.com About 1,000 residents in the Haberdasher and Charles Square estates will pilot the scheme from March before it is rolled out to more than 20,000 households across Shoreditch, giving viewers access to some 400 cameras. They will be asked to pay about Ł3.50 a week for the full service, which includes cheap local calls, a free set-top box providing digital TV, public service channels and high-speed internet access. Atul Hatwal, strategy director of the Shoreditch Digital Bridge, said while crime in the area has fallen, the community safety channel will address the fear of crime. "The scheme aims to empower members of the local community to support police in tackling crime and supporting each other in making Shoreditch a safer place," he said. But Matt Foot, co-ordinator for Asbo Concern, which campaigns against the misuse of the Asbo, said the channel was "a complete waste of money". "While the rest of the project sounds quite positive, the community safety channel is a gimmick," he said. "There are professionals trained to monitor CCTV and it should be left to them. "Here, you will have a situation of people spying on each other, which raises concerns about vigilantism and vulnerable people such as children being bullied on CCTV." About KDR \| \| Home \| \| Weekly Features Archive	Weekly Weekly Features Archive
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Rights group criticises 'Asbo TV'

BBC || January 11, 2006

Related - From 2006 Britain will be the first country where every journey by every car will be monitored

Civil rights campaigners have voiced concern about a new channel allowing households in east London to monitor local CCTV cameras, dubbed "Asbo TV".

The project will enable Shoreditch residents to compare suspicious characters with an on-screen "rogue's gallery" from their living-room.

Viewers can then alert police to anyone in breach of an anti-social behaviour order (Asbo) or committing a crime.

Asbo Concern said the scheme was a "gimmick" and would be open to abuse.

Fear of crime

The CCTV channel is part of a Ł12m online community network project being set up in the area under a 10-year government-funded regeneration programme in one of the country's most deprived areas.

Article Posted at www.KnowledgeDrivenRevolution.com

About 1,000 residents in the Haberdasher and Charles Square estates will pilot the scheme from March before it is rolled out to more than 20,000 households across Shoreditch, giving viewers access to some 400 cameras.

They will be asked to pay about Ł3.50 a week for the full service, which includes cheap local calls, a free set-top box providing digital TV, public service channels and high-speed internet access.

Atul Hatwal, strategy director of the Shoreditch Digital Bridge, said while crime in the area has fallen, the community safety channel will address the fear of crime.

"The scheme aims to empower members of the local community to support police in tackling crime and supporting each other in making Shoreditch a safer place," he said.

But Matt Foot, co-ordinator for Asbo Concern, which campaigns against the misuse of the Asbo, said the channel was "a complete waste of money".

"While the rest of the project sounds quite positive, the community safety channel is a gimmick," he said. "There are professionals trained to monitor CCTV and it should be left to them.

"Here, you will have a situation of people spying on each other, which raises concerns about vigilantism and vulnerable people such as children being bullied on CCTV."

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