Whilst this has been extensively covered elsewhere I thought it worth mentioning that the work done by FitWatch has been picked up by the mainstream media in the Guardian. Unequivocal proof that the Police even before the new counter terrorism laws were monitoring and recording the activities of people, especially photographers and journalists, whom have done nothing more than be in the vicinity of legal demonstrations.
So the Police have been making what could almost be described as a database of “dissidents” and their activities. But we’re definitely not heading towards any form of surveillance state. The recent access police have been given to motorway speed cameras seem a likely additional source of such data if, for example, you wanted to know how people were travelling to events and who they may have travelled with. This will be made even more powerful with a new generation of speed cameras. That this and other related databases, even if not misused in this fashion, may well be managed and controlled by a private company, is a tad concerning.
I feel I should point out that according to Jack Straw the increase in monitoring and the retention of innocent people’s DNA* is a good thing and welcomed by all normal people (I paraphrase, possibly unfairly). I should also point out that actually taking pictures isn’t a prerequisite for the police to arrest and detain you for taking pictures.
* Note: If you read his article, in the case he uses the person accused of rape had been acquitted of the previous accusation for which their DNA had been taken, and so were innocent (in the eyes of the law) at that time. The only logical conclusion of Mr Straws argument is that as anyone may at some point be guilty of something we should all have our DNA on file, just in case.
