Portsmouth, UK, is the first local authority to install a system that can detect suspicious, and possibly criminal behaviour. Dubbed “Smart” CCTV, the system’s software looks for suspicious acts and alerts its human operators if it spots anything.

I guess the system, as long as it’s backed up by people, is a good idea – after all it’s doing nothing different than the operators did before – other than allowing them to work more efficiently. Of course you can argue one way or the other if CCTV generally is a good idea, from a privacy standpoint. You can’t dispute the facts of fallen crime rates where they are used though. Reported by the BBC, the system is on trial initially pending review by Portsmouth Council.

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Posted in The site by Paul Godden View Comments