Are the Central London webcams being censored?

Doug. | 19.03.2005 13:41 | Anti-militarism | Repression | London

In 2003 it was suggested that London webcams covering the Anti-War March were being censored by the police.

As I couldn't get to the March today I am attemping to view it on London's webcams.
www.bbc.co.uk/london/panoramics/westminster.shtml among others. But on first impressions some seem to be malfunctioning or not working. Could others confirm this please?

Doug.

Comments

Hide the following 9 comments

In answer

19.03.2005 14:25

In answer - NO, they're just not that reliable. Look at them regulary and you'll see what I mean

Techie

oh yes!

19.03.2005 14:57

yes, seems to occur quite regulurely when large demos are taking place....hmmmmm.....

heard this before!

Webcams censored.

19.03.2005 15:12

Picadilly Circus and Trafalgar Square BBC/police webcams mysteriously out of action but Picadilly webcam does show street reclaimed by pedestrians but with no demo. The only one actually showing the demo I could find was the tourist Camvista Trafalgar Square site.

Doug.

BBC/police webcams not working.

19.03.2005 15:18

Ignore the prvious web address. The one currently being affected is:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/london/travel/jamcams/camloco/547450.shtml

Doug.

yes they are

19.03.2005 15:44

I noticed this problem when watching a demo recently, see story down the wire a bit. A nice lady at the bbc told me the police regularly do this apparently to aviod disturbibg the public.... hmmmm....

zaskar
mail e-mail: markdwatson@blueyonder.co.uk
Homepage: http://www.zaskarfilms.com

Evidence

19.03.2005 16:01

https://publish.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/03/306772.html

Previous story with the pics to show that the camera was only off during the demo, and as I said the person at the BBC confirmed to me this is normal practice by the police.

Zaskar

In answer?

19.03.2005 16:23

How come the webcams which were operating perfectly OK shortly prior to the March then went down? The first to go were Picadilly Circus and Trafalgar Square. For a while Picadilly/St James St did actually show the March but that too is now down. To much to be a coincidence. They are not that unreliable.

Doug.

Police State?

19.03.2005 16:55

So we really are living in a Police State after all, where the cops control sources of information?

Doug.

Who controls them

20.03.2005 01:32

I was informed that the cameras are owned by Traffic for London but that the Police have equal control over them.

It is regrettable that they appear to have misused that power by switching off a camera.

Zaskar