Lib Dems call for greater CCTV regulation

Story link: Lib Dems call for greater CCTV regulation by Jan Harris

At their party conference, the Liberal Democrats called for measures to eliminate the UK’s ’surveillance society’.

With the UK currently the most watched country on the planet, with a CCTV camera for every 16 people, the party is calling for the assurance that all CCTV will be subject to appropriate regulation.

Other measures called for include the repeal of the Identity Cards Act 2006, the destruction of all DNA samples taken from those not charged or convicted of an offence, and the Data Protection Act to be upgraded.

The party also wants the role of the Information Commissioner to be reviewed. At the moment the Information Commissioner has fewer powers than European counterparts.

The Lib Dems want government to be required to notify the Information Commissioner’s Office in advance of data-processing and data-mining procedures.

The party wants clear justifications to be required for these processes and for the Information Commissioner’s Office to be given the power to block such processes in exceptional circumstances.

According to the Liberal Democrat Shadow Home Secretary, Nick Clegg, there has been an erosion in the liberty of the British people, and it is time the powers of the state were rolled back.