[jambutty]

Spotted on BBC Ceefax news pages today.

“Traffic Wardens in Salford are to become the first in the UK to record their work on video.

Some wardens in the area will start to wear head-mounted miniature cameras from later this month.

NCP, which supplies Traffic Wardens in the city, will use the film to resolve disputes over tickets and to prosecute motorists who assault or abuse staff.

The technology will also help wardens in their new role of issuing fixed penalties for antisocial behaviour.”

As every day passes by we get closer and closer to George Orwell’s vision of the future as a BIG BROTHER society. Together with CCTV cameras all over the place, Spy In The Sky miniature helicopters, Spy Wardens and throw in the speed cameras and cameras in marked and unmarked police vehicles plus the miniature camera in some police headgear the public surveillance circle is complete. From here it is only a short step for domestic surveillance – first from the outside looking in.

However the news raises two other issues. Salford council have abdicated their responsibility by outsourcing the Traffic Wardens to NCP (National Car Parks) and that makes Traffic Wardens as PRIVATE policemen/women. Salford council tax will go to pay for this service and being a private company it will want to make a profit. So either Traffic Warden’s wages are lower than they used to be when the local authority employed them or it is costing the local authority more than it used to when it was in charge or maybe even a bit of both.

I’m not au fait with Salford’s local affairs but I haven’t read anywhere where Traffic Wardens have been given the power and authority to issues fixed penalties.

Watch out Hyndburn – you already have litter snoopers. How long before your Traffic Wardens emulate Salford?