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  I have to own up here.
  
  During the last couple of years in which I was Chairman of DDC's Technical Services Committee I accompanied a senior Council officer, at his suggestion, to Kings Lynn to observe their CCTV in action. They had one of the first town centre systems and I was so impressed with what I saw that on the drive back I discussed how we could introduce such a system at nil cost to the ratepayers. It was 'back of a fag packet' stuff but we worked out that by targetting car park security in selected car parks and charging a modest premium in those parks only, then that, plus a saving in vandalism costs, we could introduce a core system. Careful positioning enabled most of the Town Centre through routes to be covered too adding to pedestrian safety.
  
  I managed to get that through committee and approved though there was some opposition. The core scheme opened a month or two after we lost control of DDC at a Whitfield by-election and I had to relinquish my Chairmanship in 1993.
  
  That core scheme has been added to and extended since then, partly fund by Government grant. So you can thank or blame me for Dover getting the initial system. A few points:
  
  1/ The car park charge increase that year was the first time we had no objections because people could see they were getting something for their money, more secure car parks. They also had the choice of some cheaper parks not covered by CCTV.
  
  2/ The system was introduced having regard to privacy. That was a major concern and DDC ensured that a modus operandi was adopted in that respect.
  
  3/ The system did have an impact in reducing crime and vandalism and also providing the police important information. While every camera is/was not monitored 24 hours a day they did all record and as a result could be played back by the police in seeking out clues/information to lead to an arrest. The impact on 'live' crime in progress, alerting and steering police to an incident/wrongdoers is only part of the story.
  
  4/ It is true that some crime get 'displaced' to other areas but that is not always the case. Criminals are amazingly stupid. The deterant effect does happen though it is perhaps not a great as we originally thought it would be.
  
  As it stands now I believe that the system is worthwhile and works well up to a point.
  
  That said I am concerned that 'the survelance state' has now gone too far and we need to reign back intrusion into people's lives. That does not mean dismantelling the CCTV alltogether though.

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