Cop an earful of this .... Big Bro is listening ...walls have ears ...Lamp posts listen

The Times has a story today about the potential application at the London Olympic site (when / if built) , of the Dutch VCS Observation system that uses co-ordinated high discrimination microphones working with automatically directional CCTV cameras to listen to and detect agressive language up to 100 yards away.

You don't need sensistive microphones to pick up Sun columnist, cuckold, serial holder of Ministerial office, Visa hustler ,David "Rentagob" Blunkett who is opposed to the scheme (BBC) on "privacy" grounds - but then he has a lot he wants to keep private.

The system uses 12 factors, including word speed, pitch, volume , background noise is filtered out, enabling the camera to focus on specific conversations in public places. It is said thise gives police or other authorities in the intelligent control room the ability to intervene if the aggressive behaviour continues.

Holland has 300 systems in use in Groningen, Utrecht and Rotterdam in benefit offices, jails (!), and even T-Mobile shops. The microphone sensitivity can be adjusted to suit the site and situation. A 6 week trial in Groningen raised 70 genuine alarms, resulting in four arrests.

In one case the camera had homed in on a gang of four men who were about to attack a passer-by. “We would not normally have detected it as there was no camera directly viewing it,” said an officer in charge.

Public prosecution services can use them in court as evidence. The Dutch privacy board has already given its approval to the system.

Richard Thomas, Britain’s information commissioner, says sound recorded by the cameras would be treated under British law in the same way as CCTV footage. Under the commissioner’s code of practice, audio can be recorded for the detection, prevention of crime and apprehension and prosecution of offenders. It cannot be used for recording private (?) conversations. (Prince Charles / Lady Di ?)

This story is to some extent history - microphones (see pic of mike + 360 degree camera) have already been installed in Soho by Westminster Council see story "Listening Lamp Post May 25th 2005"

"Both the cameras and microphones can be moved and focused on any problems. The microphones will use the existing Wi-Fi network that links the cameras to Westminster's central monitoring station." said a Westminster Council official.