Don't Worry and Smile, You are Being Filmed :)

Have you seen/heard about/watched "Big Brother" (or "Loft Story" for the French)? Living in England is like living in such a house to a certain extent.

But are you sure you are safe at home?

[O]

"Security" Cameras

If ever you travel to any big cities of England, you will understand the feeling of being watch most of the day.

Let's start with a collection of pictures I took from the bus stop on my way back to my student room, all taken within 200 m from my flat. 

 
in the lift...

I counted no less than 12 cameras…

Even at the swimming pool a web cam directed toward all the incomers "ensures the security".

You are not being tricked by the cameras as many signs remind you that you are under security cameras:

 

But sometimes security cameras can be (a bit) hidden... Example: when I am waiting for the lift...

Have you found it? Look carefully...Yes on the left, behind the glass with the fire fighting equipment!

A last one to show you that spyware is everywhere especially when you don't expect it, like during your Sunday walk...

[Picture taken during my day trip to Wales]

In your opinion, how many cameras are there in the UK?Many! But I found a clue at Urbis, a mordern exhibition ...

“With a security camera for every 40 people,
Britains is the most watched over country in the world.
On average, you are filmed 300 times a day.”

Considering that there are about 58 million inhabitants in the UK, and that I arrived on the 7th of February in Manchester, how many times did I appear on a security camera?

[O]

A British opinion

When I asked my flatmate what she thought about these numerous cameras, she simply answered: "It is good!; they prevent people from doing bad things! If something happened, criminals would be caught!"
Hum, security cameras to keep away bad intentions...

[O]

Insecurity in England

I thought that being in a western country like England would mean living in a safe place. I was wrong. I rather feel in the most insecure place I have ever been.

Did I ever mention the security in my student residence? Besides the 12 cameras on my very short way home, I have a swipe card to:

        1/ unlock a first main door to get into the reception of the building
If I have guests, I must sign them in in a "guest book"  with my name and their names, without forgetting their arrival time (and departure time when they live the building)
        2/ unclock a second door by swiping a second time to reach the living area.

The other day I got a message from the residence, for my flatmates and myself.

To sum up, closing your door, staying locked inside your bedroom is the only solution to survive to this crazy world, even your neighbour or anybody else living in the building can not be trusted. But how did they notice that? Do receptionists really check each of the doors all the time? Are we watched so closely?

[O]

How did all this "security" equipment means appear in Britain? Are all the developed countries  bound to have the same paranoid atmosphere? Is it Manchester so dangerous? Did "they" create this atmospher of fear? Does a camera really help to reduce crimes and violence?
I am a bit skeptical about this and don't know what to think about it anymore...
Any coments about this topics will be welcome...