1) Watch this video
2) Then do the exercises on page 49 of the WORKBOOK.
3) Then write a reply (150-190 words) to the opinion in exercise B in the section for comments below this entry. Choose to comment as "Anónimo" and then, before publishing, sign your comment with your initials and surname.
4) Include your overall opinion on CCTV, reasons for your opinions and examples from your own experience. You should write your comment BEFORE Tuesday (that's NOT on Tuesday as I need Tuesday morning to go through them).
5) Remember it's a good idea to revise the vocabulary of Crime & Punishment from last year. Mercedes Valverde has shared this worksheet with us.
OFFLINE
SB p.54 Exercise C
Patsy:
ResponderEliminarTesting
my blog post here
ResponderEliminarPatsy
Video surveillance can help to prevent or solve crimes such as vadalism, violence or theft. However, it's important to think carefully about the consequences before installing CCTV in buses, schools, etc.
ResponderEliminarVideo cameras follow you. When you're sitting in the bus, when you're in the supermarket or when you're looking the latest trends in a clothing store. Insecurity is an important reason to justify the rising use of video cameras. For instance, the person who is alone at night at the petrol station counter feels much calmer and secure if the area is under surverillance with CCTV.
But, there's no evidence to prove that the overall levels of criminality drop off installing video cameras. While there seems to be other kind of violence or this one is moving to different areas. It's for that reason there's a great controversy as to real contribution of the video surveillance to security.
It's not always realible. So, in same places, cameras are used to get rid of undesirable people asking to abandon the place even without having done nothing wrong. In this context, the recorded images should be used under the aplicable rules.
Finally, we need to step in if someone seems to be in danger. Remember recording the offence can not avoid that happen.
MAR SÁNCHEZ
Nowadays, the society where we live is full of cameras. You find them in shops, banks, etc. It’s a controversial topic because we find people thinking they are losing their freedom and people feeling more secure with CCTV.
ResponderEliminarCameras have a role to play in places like airports, police stations and banks. They are important places that need to be controlled.
The truth is that people break the law every day. You see in the news burglaries, assaults, kidnapping and the gangs can be caught thanks to this technology installed everywhere. Maybe it can help dropping the street crime after the installation of a network of cameras.
I can`t forget some years ago, when two children were supposed disappeared at the children city. They were thought to be kidnapped but the CCTV gave the police all the info they need and finally they caught the kids' father who was arrested. He went to jail accused of murder.
Walking around any city and seeing cameras in place makes me feel more secure. If you have nothing to hide, you shouldn’t worry about being on camera.
M.GARCIA
If CCTV controls your whole life, what will be the next?
ResponderEliminarIt is wrongly believed that the more cameras are placed around the city, the less crimes will be committed by offenders. Last researches and statistics show that minor crime rates have increased in recent times, especially in deprived areas that are further away from the city centre.
But, Could CCTV really help to avoid them? As far as I know, minor crimes such as burglary, shoplifting or vandalism could decrease without needing cameras everywhere. Furthermore, it would cost a fortune and as a result, it would raise taxes without halting crimes at all, because offenders always find alternative methods to dodge Cameras and not to be caught by them.
One year ago, I was a victim of mugging while I was walking around the city center. A man, who was threatening me with a knife and his face covered, stole my wallet. Unluckily, I trusted a near CCTV , but he wasn´t finally identified.
In my opinion the best option would be to launch an educational campaign in schools to reduce the spiral of violence in youth.
CCTV are a controversial issue because, Where would private life start if we are under watching constantly as criminals? How Could we defend freedom at the same time authority is putting an end to it?
M. Urbano
In the fight against crime, the increase in Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV in advance) cameras at public places is thought to be recommended. In this way, whereas they appear only in banks, museums, jeweller’s and at high-security places until a few years ago, nowadays it is very common to see them in public places such small businesses, parks, shopping centers, petrol stations, underground,… I have seen them even at schools and streets. Many people are opposed to this, saying that it invades our privacy. However, I am inclined to believe that, like all thinks in life, both sides of the coin have to be considered.
ResponderEliminarAs a general rule, people behave better when we know we are being observed. In this regard, it is impossible not to assume that CCTV cameras are a good way to instill civility into society. However, wouldn’t it be better if people behaved well without the necessity of installing cameras? In my way of thinking, it would be better for society and to the fight against crime, to educate and to teach good manners to our children and young, rather than installing CCTV cameras everywhere. It would not only be a long-time solution but also more economical.
On the other hand, criminals can be deterred, caught or even identified through the information recorded by these cameras. That information helps to reduce crime and consequently make the streets safer for people. Nevertheless, whether the information is a good thing, depends on who owns it. Therefore, for instance, corrupt authorities could use information in the wrong way or twist it to victimize people. We have to take it into account: the more information the corrupt persons get, the more powerful they are.
Finally, as I was previously stated, many people think these cameras affect our privacy. It is thought that we should be free to travel or move around the world without being recorded by cameras. That is a human right which could be seen as a deprived right at the moment we are being 24 hours a day observed.
To conclude, it is important to remember that nothing in this life can be the absolute truth. So, cameras cannot be the solution: I think we need to work in future generation’s education, in human right maintenance and in reducing crime (not only with cameras but also with new human methods). If we all work in one direction with all our tools, we will achieve more and better goals.
MERCEDES V.
It could be true crime rates are increasing nowadays because of the financial crisis but there isn't a case for using cameras everywhere . If criminals cover their faces , wear a wig or any other kind of disguise to avoid being recognized they won't able to be identified despite having been caught in cameras so, what do we want them for?
ResponderEliminarTo be honest, I must confess I tend to have a pathological relationship with cameras, I feel so uncomfortable being in cameras that I hate them.
Lately, my building's hall is suffering from vandalism . In a neighbour's meeting a CCTV was suggested as a solution and, of course, I gave my opinion against this measure. As the vandal is believed to live in the building ,after that I can be the main suspicious neighbour but, i'm not bothered as I'm hopefull that sooner or later vandal is bound to be caught.
Instead of installig cameras, I'd rather more police out the streets. With CCTV crimes are only recorded while police can help you at the moment crimes are committed. For this reason I feel safer watching police on the streets than using cameras.
M.L. SÁNCHEZ
Nowadays CCTV is part of modern society. It doesn’t matter if you live in Asia, North America or Europe. For this reason, I consider the problem not to be the existence of the cameras watching us,but the use of these cameras.
ResponderEliminarLast years police couldn’t have caught so many criminals without the help of cameras. At least we have to recognize they are essential in public areas such as airports, train stations, important monuments, etc.
Personally, I don’t mind if someone is watching me pick my nose on a screen. Furthermore, I don’t believe anybody spends hours watching trivial public scenes. Authorities probably just use the images when a person commits a crime. Apart from that, can you imagine the amount of crimes avoided because of the lack of cameras?
All in all I understand that surveillance can take inappropriate images by chance. As a consequence any person can have their intimacy violated. However, taking all the consideration into account CCTV has much more advantages than disadvantages.
Fausto
There is a growing concern about petty, hate or knife crimes in those days .Different types of crimes such us burglaries ,violent assaults, pickpocketings robberies ,identity thefts ,forgeries can be looked through in the news .Using cameras might cut down the number of public order offences . But does it mean that they come to an end? I think that having cameras in one place just move this one to a different area.
EliminarBeing a citizen implies that people must obey the law. We should be law-abiding citizens. There are other ways to encourage people to take responsibility for themselves and their communities. We can achieve this by means of formal as well as informal education in schools or in universities , at home or community groups. Futhermore, installing cameras in schools is just going too far .I know that its use would cope with antisocial behaviour (bullying ,verbal abuse or vandalism) But where will it all end? Having cameras everywhere may lead to a lack of trust in society .For not mention the huge amount of money that both to the taxpayer and to the government can cost.
Some years ago,I went to a cash machine so as to get money .I didn´t realize that I was being followed by a stranger .All of a sudden ,a guy came up to me and he pulled out a gun .Later ,he was arrested but the judge didn´t find enough evidence .The man pleaded not guilty. The jury decided there wasn´t enough proof. .He was acquitted and allowed to go free. The case was dismissed for the lack of evidence. I couldn´t believe my eyes .If he was caught by security cameras! In the end, cameras were a waste of money and time.
MJ PEREZ
Being watched seems to be part of our usual life. But it wasn't like that in the past.
ResponderEliminarCCTV devices are everywhere, looking at us as that Big Brother from George Orwel's 1984. The first thing that springs to mind is if sorting out crimes compensates the loss of intimacy.
The positive side of this issue is the huge amount of offences that can be solved thanks to CCTV cameras. Important cases such as José Bretón's or Asunta's support this line of thinking.Those silent witnesses in the streets , shops , airports,etc allow the police to charge not only famous murderers; but also minor offenders with their crimes. For instance, pickpockets, muggers or vandals are often caught red-handed and the image of their actions is an evidence they cannot reply. It is also said that cameras put the offenders off, which is another upside of this subject.
Having said that I still don't feel comfortable knowing that every single thing we do can be recorded.The point is why do we have to live like that? Why don't governments invest more in crime prevention rather than in building jails or installing cameras?
People have accepted surveillance because nowadays any tiny action, any routine is often published through the social nets. They are used to it. I'm not, though. I jealously guard my privacy.
Marisa Membrilla
We live in a world full of cases of crimes. Those days in which you could walk alone in the street at night quietly and find the doors of the houses opened have finished. It's probably caused by economic crisis provoking an increase of the number of offenders.
ResponderEliminarIn my opinion using CCTV is a step to fight against the crime. If a mugger, murderer or kidnapper commits a crime in a dark street, they should be caught and punished. In those cases normally there isn't any witness and they end up getting away with the crime.
I have a friend who was attacked two years ago. She was walking early in the morning when in a deserted street suddenly appeared a mugger with a knife. He threatened her to kill if she didn´t give him all the money. Although he got his aim, he hurt her and then run away. As she couldn't identify the criminal, the police didn't get to catch the mugger. Maybe, if there had been a camera in this street, the criminal would have been arrested.
The government should put cameras in all cities and ,even this idea should be introduced into some policy about security.
Many people are worried about their privacy but if you don't have anything to hide, you shouldn't mind living more secure.
E.Grau