CCTV cameras

An expensive failure admitted, at long last.

Most people like CCTV cameras. They show Something - as in Something Must Be Done - is being done. And most people don't care about enjoying the freedom to walk down the street without being spied on by a camera. Because they don't care, they don't think I should get to enjoy that freedom either.

The government's proposed solution - obviously - is to say that we need next generation digital cameras, more expensive, more extensive. When something isn't working, the government tells people how much it costs as if the expenditure of money were its own reward. And if police, understandably, can't be bothered to sift through hours of footage to spot something, moving to high resolution playback with surround sound isn't going to up the numbers very far. Popcorn sellers - get back in your seats.

I would be delighted if a major political party pledged no new cameras and instead spent our precious money on those things which prevent and punish crime. Perhaps Boris? Could the man who last year proposed giving Iran nukes be the voice of sanity?

No chance. Mayor Johnson wants to put CCTV on buses at a cost he claims will be £3000 per bus. Images will be beamed to a control room where, we assume, people will sit and watch what is happening on buses. Exciting and cheap, no?

Why not just put everyone in a taxi and watch Trisha?