Orwellian Eye-in-the-Sky Gets Orwellian Fanfare in Liverpool Echo
Emmanuel Goldstein | 03.08.2006 20:35 | Repression | Technology | Liverpool
In a breathtakingly cynical strategy, Merseyside Police have linked their purchase of eye-in-the-sky camera technology with this week's 'moral panic' - mini-motos. In a breathtakingly credulous piece of 'journalism', the Liverpool Echo's Luke Traynor has bought their story hook, line and sinker.
Cops unveil their new cameras
Over the last few days, the mainstream press has diverted our attention from the Israeli state's terrorism to the 'terror' of the 'mini-motorbike menace' (eg 
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/5234468.stm). Though they may have disturbed some people, any problem would be solved if some land was set aside for young enthusiasts to ride on.
Today, Merseyside Police unveiled their 'Spotterscope' cameras. Attached to one of the force's helicopters, they will work at heights of up to 300ft and will record images so a person can be fined or prosecuted.
But despite the fact that the 'menace' of mini-motos has only been in the press for a couple of days, the police claimed that the technology was being introduced SPECIFICALLY to combat young moto enthusiasts.
Andy Adamson, Merseyside police's unit executive officer at RAF Woodvale, said: "Tracking these bikers are (sic) part of our normal duties. "If we see them, we record their behaviour on digital tapes and co-ordinate a response on the ground. If it's safe, we will follow them and stop them. This is one of our main jobs in the summer months and we are committed to using our technology to stop them and put them before the courts."
The Echo's Luke Traynor accepted this unquestioningly, and the quote appeared today's article, entitled 'Eye in sky will trap the city's mini-moto tearaways' ( http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0100regionalnews/tm_objectid=17512812%26method=full%26siteid=50061%26page=1%26headline=eye%2din%2dsky%2dwill%2dtrap%2dthe%2dcity%2ds%2dmini%2dmoto%2dtearaways-name_page.html). The Echo has once again shown itself to be a mouthpiece of the authorities, and highlighted the ever-increasing need for working class people to make the whole story heard on Indymedia.
Will the cameras be used on the corporate polluters at Sonae in Kirby? Will they be used on the bosses at the Ministry of Defence building on Drury Lane? Will they be used on those approving housing demolition on Smithdown and elsewhere? You can bet your last penny they won't. Will they be used on anyone fighting back against the corporate stanglehold on our city? Only time will tell...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/5234468.stm). Though they may have disturbed some people, any problem would be solved if some land was set aside for young enthusiasts to ride on. Today, Merseyside Police unveiled their 'Spotterscope' cameras. Attached to one of the force's helicopters, they will work at heights of up to 300ft and will record images so a person can be fined or prosecuted.
But despite the fact that the 'menace' of mini-motos has only been in the press for a couple of days, the police claimed that the technology was being introduced SPECIFICALLY to combat young moto enthusiasts.
Andy Adamson, Merseyside police's unit executive officer at RAF Woodvale, said: "Tracking these bikers are (sic) part of our normal duties. "If we see them, we record their behaviour on digital tapes and co-ordinate a response on the ground. If it's safe, we will follow them and stop them. This is one of our main jobs in the summer months and we are committed to using our technology to stop them and put them before the courts."
The Echo's Luke Traynor accepted this unquestioningly, and the quote appeared today's article, entitled 'Eye in sky will trap the city's mini-moto tearaways' (
http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0100regionalnews/tm_objectid=17512812%26method=full%26siteid=50061%26page=1%26headline=eye%2din%2dsky%2dwill%2dtrap%2dthe%2dcity%2ds%2dmini%2dmoto%2dtearaways-name_page.html). The Echo has once again shown itself to be a mouthpiece of the authorities, and highlighted the ever-increasing need for working class people to make the whole story heard on Indymedia. Will the cameras be used on the corporate polluters at Sonae in Kirby? Will they be used on the bosses at the Ministry of Defence building on Drury Lane? Will they be used on those approving housing demolition on Smithdown and elsewhere? You can bet your last penny they won't. Will they be used on anyone fighting back against the corporate stanglehold on our city? Only time will tell...
Emmanuel Goldstein
Comments
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What?
04.08.2006 18:48
Quote: "Over the last few days, the mainstream press has diverted our attention from the Israeli state's terrorism to the 'terror' of the 'mini-motorbike menace'"
Just because every paper is not chock-a-block wall to wall with news, opinion and comment on the situation in the Middle East you claim that the mini-moto story is "diverting attention". This may be hard to stomach (and may be the wrong attitude for people to take) but there are far more people concerned about motorbikes disturbing their neighbourhoods every night than there are sat worrying about the situation in the Middle East. Harsh but true.
And will the police camera be used to spy on polluters - er...no. And I don't want it to. I want polluters to be dealt the right way. Will it be used on approving housing demolition? Err...no again! You are, quite frankly a ridiculous person.
It is posts like that that give the left a bad name.
Moto Gutsy
Andy
05.09.2006 19:32
Andy
Andy
14.10.2006 11:08
It's one of many uses for a police helicopter, I don't think they're particularly bothered using the technology to spy on you while you're beavering away with your Rubicks cube either.
Andy