[Scuddie]

Usually I'm not concerned with cameras recording what's going on in a large area.  It might catch a crime in progress.  Things like that should be common.  Surveillance methods for criminal investigations FTW...  However, profiling a person and tracking them proactively is DEFINITELY not cool.  I don't have a problem if Big Brother is looking, but it's a scary thought to know that Big Brother is watching.  The difference is not small by any means.  This kind of thing goes WAY over the red line.

[Kosh]

It might catch a crime in progress.

Has the crime rate in London gone down since all of these cameras were installed?

I don't have a problem if Big Brother is looking, but it's a scary thought to know that Big Brother is watching.

That's really the same thing. The problem is power like this could be very easily abused.....and you wouldn't know it until it is too late.

[Goober5000]

Has the crime rate in London gone down since all of these cameras were installed?

From what I hear (unfortunately I don't have a source handy) the effect on crime has been negligible.  Criminals are still caught the old-fashioned way, by detective work and the occasional lucky tip.

[Tyrian]

One thing on crime deterrent surveillance that has started to see use in the US are a set of specialized audio detectors that can be used to listen to, and triangulate the position of, gunshots (and nothing else, like conversations.  The mics aren't sensitive enough).  They have apparently seen some success, as police officers can access a shooting location on their laptops, and be there within minutes, to either apprehend the shooter or deliver first aid to the victim.  Currently, they are only being used in high crime neighborhoods.

These detectors, I don't have a problem with, as they can't really be used to track or spy on people and have some immediate and tangible benefit, unlike cameras, which just invite the government to stick their nose where it doesn't belong.  Plus, the statistics show that these gunshot detectors do work, and that crime in areas where they are installed has actually decreased, once the criminals know that the police can respond quickly and effectively.