Chris Thompson   Chris Thompson on the internet

Over at the Guardian website, there is an article discussing how there has been a steady increase of CCTV systems and surveillance in Britain over recent years. In fact, they state that it’s a 44% increase since 2006, which is really quite staggering. But saying that, I have heard a lot about it over the years, but never really seen much evidence of it.

My not noticing it though is probably more to do with me not paying much attention than anything else. Because today not only did I notice it, but I noticed it almost everywhere I went. Britain now has more surveillance and CCTV cameras than anywhere else in the world, and if you look for it, you can see why.

Often, they are so well hidden that you just don’t notice them. I suppose that’s the whole point really, but when you are simply walking through town, or going to the cinema, it seems a bit much to be recorded 24/7. I wouldn’t have noticed the camera in the cinema lobby at all, if I hadn’t specifically scanned the area for it: the small print next to the ticket machine informed me that I was being watched and recorded.

It just seems slightly … James Bond-ish. It’s futuristic and surreal, and really not very nice to think about. I just hope that it does its job – presumably helping with crime – as much as it raises the hairs on the back of my neck.