Scameras every 400 yds........
Discussion
Good thing Brunstrom's gone....... 
www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2087-1869818_1,00.html
The Sunday Times November 13, 2005
Spy cameras to spot drivers’ every move
Emma Smith and Dipesh Gadher
BRITAIN’S top traffic policeman is pushing through plans to create a national network of roadside spy cameras that will be able to track the movements of motorists around the clock.
Meredydd Hughes wants the cameras to be installed every 400 yards on motorways, as well as at supermarkets, petrol stations and in town centres.
They are designed to crack down on uninsured driving, road tax evasion and stolen cars, but will also monitor millions of law-abiding drivers.
Several thousand cameras have gone up and fines imposed on motorists will be used to expand the network. The new cameras are harder to spot than speed cameras because they are not painted in bright colours.
Hughes, head of roads policing at the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo), said he planned for automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras to be erected “every 400 yards along the motorway”. In one trial, on the M42, near Birmingham, they would initially enforce variable speed limits, and then be used to tackle more serious crime.
“Where we install CCTV systems, we will also install ANPR,” said Hughes, the chief constable of South Yorkshire police. “There are lots of plans to use all the existing camera systems we can. The aim is to deny criminals the use of the roads.”
An Acpo strategy document, seen by The Sunday Times, makes the controversial suggestion that every ANPR “intercept officer” should aim to issue at least 310 fixed-penalty notices a year.
Details of any vehicle passing a camera will be stored in a database for at least two years — even if the owner has not committed an offence.
Hughes’s model for the rest of Britain is the “complete system” around the Meadowhall shopping centre in Sheffield. “Every vehicle coming into that environment is checked on the ANPR database. Police officers monitor this in real time.”
The national operation will be overseen from a new control centre in Hendon, north London, which will be able to process as many as 50m number plates a day by the end of 2006.
The Acpo strategy document describes the centre, which will open next April, as “the basis of a 24x7 national vehicle movement database”.
Officers investigating crimes will eventually be able to access the information from computers anywhere in the UK, although they will require clearance from senior managers.
ANPR is being used in Northampton and will soon be operating in Newcastle. Similar cameras are also used to enforce the congestion charge in London, although they are not currently used to target uninsured or other such errant drivers.
The cameras are not only linked to the police national computer, but also to the DVLA database, which allows officers to identify vehicles that are not registered or taxed.
Last week the network was linked to a database of 2m uninsured cars. From next month police will be able to crosscheck automatically a number plate with a list of vehicles without a valid MOT certificate
Police have found that uninsured drivers and those without a valid tax disc are disproportionately involved in other criminal activity. Arrest rates through ANPR have increased by up to 1,000%.
Each police force has at least one ANPR “intercept” team, which typically consists of a sergeant and six constables.
Traditionally, they have operated further up the road from a mobile ANPR camera unit, stopping cars that are flagged up on one of the databases.
An increasing number of ANPR cameras are now being installed at fixed sites. “There are ANPR cameras on every motorway in the UK — at strategic points,” said John Dean, Acpo’s national ANPR co-ordinator. “We are hoping to have a good nationwide coverage within the next 12 months.”
The move has raised concerns among civil liberties campaigners. “Big national databases have joined sweeping police powers and ever more criminal offences as a new panacea of policing,” said Shami Chakrabarti, director of Liberty.
Dean, however, defended the ANPR network. “People say ‘Why are you spending all this time catching people going three miles over the speed limit when you should be catching criminals?’” he said. “This is exactly what ANPR does.”
www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2087-1869818_1,00.html
The Sunday Times November 13, 2005
Spy cameras to spot drivers’ every move
Emma Smith and Dipesh Gadher
BRITAIN’S top traffic policeman is pushing through plans to create a national network of roadside spy cameras that will be able to track the movements of motorists around the clock.
Meredydd Hughes wants the cameras to be installed every 400 yards on motorways, as well as at supermarkets, petrol stations and in town centres.
They are designed to crack down on uninsured driving, road tax evasion and stolen cars, but will also monitor millions of law-abiding drivers.
Several thousand cameras have gone up and fines imposed on motorists will be used to expand the network. The new cameras are harder to spot than speed cameras because they are not painted in bright colours.
Hughes, head of roads policing at the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo), said he planned for automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras to be erected “every 400 yards along the motorway”. In one trial, on the M42, near Birmingham, they would initially enforce variable speed limits, and then be used to tackle more serious crime.
“Where we install CCTV systems, we will also install ANPR,” said Hughes, the chief constable of South Yorkshire police. “There are lots of plans to use all the existing camera systems we can. The aim is to deny criminals the use of the roads.”
An Acpo strategy document, seen by The Sunday Times, makes the controversial suggestion that every ANPR “intercept officer” should aim to issue at least 310 fixed-penalty notices a year.
Details of any vehicle passing a camera will be stored in a database for at least two years — even if the owner has not committed an offence.
Hughes’s model for the rest of Britain is the “complete system” around the Meadowhall shopping centre in Sheffield. “Every vehicle coming into that environment is checked on the ANPR database. Police officers monitor this in real time.”
The national operation will be overseen from a new control centre in Hendon, north London, which will be able to process as many as 50m number plates a day by the end of 2006.
The Acpo strategy document describes the centre, which will open next April, as “the basis of a 24x7 national vehicle movement database”.
Officers investigating crimes will eventually be able to access the information from computers anywhere in the UK, although they will require clearance from senior managers.
ANPR is being used in Northampton and will soon be operating in Newcastle. Similar cameras are also used to enforce the congestion charge in London, although they are not currently used to target uninsured or other such errant drivers.
The cameras are not only linked to the police national computer, but also to the DVLA database, which allows officers to identify vehicles that are not registered or taxed.
Last week the network was linked to a database of 2m uninsured cars. From next month police will be able to crosscheck automatically a number plate with a list of vehicles without a valid MOT certificate
Police have found that uninsured drivers and those without a valid tax disc are disproportionately involved in other criminal activity. Arrest rates through ANPR have increased by up to 1,000%.
Each police force has at least one ANPR “intercept” team, which typically consists of a sergeant and six constables.
Traditionally, they have operated further up the road from a mobile ANPR camera unit, stopping cars that are flagged up on one of the databases.
An increasing number of ANPR cameras are now being installed at fixed sites. “There are ANPR cameras on every motorway in the UK — at strategic points,” said John Dean, Acpo’s national ANPR co-ordinator. “We are hoping to have a good nationwide coverage within the next 12 months.”
The move has raised concerns among civil liberties campaigners. “Big national databases have joined sweeping police powers and ever more criminal offences as a new panacea of policing,” said Shami Chakrabarti, director of Liberty.
Dean, however, defended the ANPR network. “People say ‘Why are you spending all this time catching people going three miles over the speed limit when you should be catching criminals?’” he said. “This is exactly what ANPR does.”
“Where we install CCTV systems, we will also install ANPR,” said Hughes, the chief constable of South Yorkshire police. “There are lots of plans to use all the existing camera systems we can. The aim is to deny criminals the use of the roads.”
No - the aim is to deny EVERYONE the use of the roads !!!
No - the aim is to deny EVERYONE the use of the roads !!!
catso said:
www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2087-1869818_1,00.html
The Sunday Times November 13, 2005
Spy cameras to spot drivers’ every move
Meredydd Hughes wants the cameras to be installed every 400 yards on motorways,
Every 400yds?
Why on earth every 400yds?
If these are ANPR (and not speed cameras) surely they would only be required at entries and exits?
Hughes’s model for the rest of Britain is the “complete system” around the Meadowhall shopping centre in Sheffield. “Every vehicle coming into that environment is checked on the ANPR database. Police officers monitor this in real time.”
Kept that quiet didn't he ???
Have seen these cameras put up on M1, along with all the others in and around Murderhall, guessed it wouldn't be long before their purpose was disclosed.
Too late to do anything about 'em now, I suppose.....
(Lets all throw our keys off Tinsley Viaduct !!)
Kept that quiet didn't he ???
Have seen these cameras put up on M1, along with all the others in and around Murderhall, guessed it wouldn't be long before their purpose was disclosed.
Too late to do anything about 'em now, I suppose.....
(Lets all throw our keys off Tinsley Viaduct !!)
Pretty sure our local uberTescos has got an ANPR system operating, and I know for a fact that a fair few petrol stations and motorway service areas have them too. I can see there being lots of "well if you've got nothing to hide" arguments being trotted out to justify this, but what happens if the database is wrong or if/when the whole thing falls over? I could be sat here with a perfectly legal car, documents all in order and receiving FPN after FPN through the post from RoboPlod - guilty until proven innocent.
Mr Hughes should be proud to be alienating so many drivers. He should be proud that he aims to have each ticket plod giving out 310 per year/month/day/whatever.
He should also be aware of this : If he gets into a situation whereby he NEEDS public assistance, he aint gonna get any.
I for one would be more likely to put the boot in than help out.
There ya go Mr Stoopido Camera cop, thats the result of turning us all into criminals.
Idiot pleb.
He should also be aware of this : If he gets into a situation whereby he NEEDS public assistance, he aint gonna get any.
I for one would be more likely to put the boot in than help out.
There ya go Mr Stoopido Camera cop, thats the result of turning us all into criminals.
Idiot pleb.
Non of you twigged?
ANPR requires a bevy of stopping officers. Mentioned at Sheffield was a Sgt and 6 for one unit With all these cameras where are they going to get the man power from?
New unit - civilian APNR stoppers?
Why every 400 yards on a Motorway? Between Interchanges how the hell are the bad guys going to get off. Fly?
The crap they report these days.
dvd
ANPR requires a bevy of stopping officers. Mentioned at Sheffield was a Sgt and 6 for one unit With all these cameras where are they going to get the man power from?
New unit - civilian APNR stoppers?
Why every 400 yards on a Motorway? Between Interchanges how the hell are the bad guys going to get off. Fly?
The crap they report these days.
dvd
davidra said:
I understand HOW, but I do not understand WHY - "1984", Orwell
Why keep millions of drivers' travel details in a database for years? Every 400m must be speed control.
**NOW** I understand WHY:
http://politics.guardian.co.uk/homeaffairs/story/0,1
"Ministers are planning to crack down on motorists who speed on motorways in an attempt to meet government targets aimed at reducing Britain's emissions of greenhouse gases.
Officials acknowledge that any move to force the 15 million motorists who currently exceed the 70 mph speed limit to slow down would be "politically sensitive", but they say it would save significant amounts of carbon dioxide pollution. Engine efficiency falls quickly beyond 70 mph."
Fair enough imho, 70mph is quick enough, very efficient. In a way they are going to loose out as we get more economy too, meaning less filling up at the pumps. So I assume they must be going to have big fines for "C02 output exceeding", or they are just going to up fuel duty too to offset the loss?
Why haven't they banned bonfire night yet?
Ban fireworks?
Ban smoking cigs?
Ban open fires in homes?
Don't they realise the savings in the big picture are not worth the cost to the economy and the cost of enforcement?
Ah, they need to be seen to be doing something, and the rich "evil" motorist is fair game for the government and tabloid propoganda machine. Much better than say enforcing maximum usage of electricity/gas in people's homes that effects everyone, but would be hugely more effective in reducing C02.
Still, we know it's not REALLY about reducing it anyway, as if it was they'd be doing something better than this!
Dave
Why haven't they banned bonfire night yet?
Ban fireworks?
Ban smoking cigs?
Ban open fires in homes?
Don't they realise the savings in the big picture are not worth the cost to the economy and the cost of enforcement?
Ah, they need to be seen to be doing something, and the rich "evil" motorist is fair game for the government and tabloid propoganda machine. Much better than say enforcing maximum usage of electricity/gas in people's homes that effects everyone, but would be hugely more effective in reducing C02.
Still, we know it's not REALLY about reducing it anyway, as if it was they'd be doing something better than this!
Dave
james_j said:Even if I didn't object on principle, there are so many pointless and restrictive new laws being passed on a daily basis, that I'm frankly unsure whether I've got anything to hide or not.
I can hear the petty flourescent-jacketed peak-capped officials now "...if you've got nothing to hide..."
The ANPR cameras in and around london (mainly for con-charge) are also linked to a database that keeps info on journies (although not on which vehicle does the journey). This is used un modelling congestion, journey types (i.e. where to dig up the road to cause most promlems 
) and provide real-time journey time estimates. Not a bad use imo but when thay start recording who made which journey and when than it's going too far.
) and provide real-time journey time estimates. Not a bad use imo but when thay start recording who made which journey and when than it's going too far. Gassing Station | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff