Beyond Liberty, Beyond Security: The Politics of Public Surveillance

This paper examines the expansion of closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras across the UK. In doing so it argues that the often-repeated dichotomy of 'security vs liberty' is an insufficient way of understanding the issue. In attempting to develop an overall appreciation of the growth of CCTV in Britain, this paper first looks towards its stated aims of reducing crime and terrorism. Finding the impact of CCTV on these phenomena as far from certain while also noting the lack of methodologically sound evidence to justify any claims of effectiveness, this paper identifies the wider political context surrounding the creation of crime-control policy during the New Labour administration as developing a context that elevates the likelihood that CCTV will become favoured over the assortment of available crime reduction strategies. In conclusion, the potential for CCTV to have a wider impact beyond simple dichotomies of liberty and security - such as the additional social costs of mass surveillance and the diversion of much-needed public funds - will be addressed. © 2008 Palgrave Macmillan Ltd