In Australian Town, Public CCTV Off Over Privacy Concerns

freddienumber13 writes "The CCTV cameras operated by the local government in the country town of Nowra, NSW (Australia) have been turned off following an order by the Administrative Decisions Tribunal. The local government is crying because it believes that it is losing an effective method in combating crime in public. Locals however are rejoicing that they are no longer being recorded whilst walking down the street."

Comments

Turned off, not removed

[SternisheFan]

From the article: "The decision was made after Shoalhaven City Council was found to have breached several clauses of the Privacy and Personal Information Act.

After allegations made by a member of the public, only identified as SF, that the council had used its CCTV cameras to obtain personal information from him, the council was ordered to refrain from any conduct or action in contravention of the act.

The tribunal also ordered the council to render a written apology to SF for the breaches and advise him of any steps to be taken by council to remove the possibility of similar breaches in the future. The cameras are to remain turned off until the decision of the tribunal has been considered."

I wonder what personal info was gathered about the guy, and how.

Here on the UK however

[Gonoff]

We are unlikely to do such a stupid thing.

I have first hand experience of seeing criminals caught because of CCTV and I have actually been the responder to an injury spotted by cameras,

At the hospital where I work, car theft and vandalism has almost disappeared since cameras were introduced in the car parks. I have also heard drunks warn each other to behave because there were cameras in A&E. I have also seen where someone was given a watertight alibi where they had been accused of a major crime. Yes, they also catch criminals. That does not worry me either.

I don't know if they have much effect on gun crime. This is the UK and we don't have your problems with that. The last time I heard gunfire not on TV, I was in army uniform and carrying one myself.