The recent unpleasant experience of one resident finding a camera recording whilst pointing into her bedroom has highlighted the problems of expensive and ineffective CCTV.
The record of CCTV cameras preventing or deterring crime is extremely poor. Scotland Yard has reported that only one crime in 1000 is actually solved by CCTV, and contrary to popular belief, there is no evidence that CCTV cameras prevent crime.
Local green campaigner Charlie Kiss said: “These cameras are not especially successful at catching offenders, and in addition they perpetuate an atmosphere of fear when crime is on the decrease.
“Why did Islington Council decide to spend a reported £250,000 on the upgrading of CCTV cameras?
“It appears to me that instead of genuinely being on the side of local residents, Islington Council is pandering to popular myths and wasting huge amounts of money while doing so.”
