Watching the watchers in Nottingham
Notts IMC + The Office of Community Sousveillance | 20.01.2009 14:05 | Repression | Social Struggles
Concerned residents have begun a campaign of 'sousveillance' of Nottingham's CCTV cameras and of some of the people employed to watch over us. PCSO Watch aims "to playfully gather information, data, and stories about PCSOs and their Community Protection Officer (CPO) colleagues" in order "to open up a channel of communication upwards rather than downwards about an increasingly out-of-control area of our society." The Office of Community Sousveillance was recently out and about on the streets of Hyson Green, getting members of the public to give their testimonies about their treatment by PCSOs.
Meanwhile, a CCTV treasure hunt was held in Nottingham on Sunday in order to "help map Nottinghams insane surveillance system!!!" The aim was to encourage members of the public to anonymously photograph CCTV cameras in their area and post them, along with details of where they are located, on a national website.
Newswire: 'PCSO Watch' | The Cctv Treasure Hunt | CCTV 'Treasure Hunt' around Nottingham | PCSO Watch - Office of Community Sousveillance | Surveillance of Nottingham City Centre [Update]
Links: The Office of Community Sousveillance | CCTV Treasure Hunt
What is 'PCSO Watch'?
PCSO Watch is inspired by an incident back in October 2007, when Officer Rob O' Copp, the founding member of the Office of Community Sousveillance was fined £30 by a Police Community Support Officer (PCSO), for cycling a short distance across the pavement towards a cycle stand in Nottingham City Centre.
The project is led by Officer Rob O'Copp who is inviting other maverick 'Officers' to join him to playfully gather information, data, and stories about PCSOs and their Community Protection Officer (CPO) colleagues. Officers are asking the public for help in contributing their own stories and interactions to add to our online blog.
"PCSO Watch is a playful piece of research, which, I should add for the record, is completely unmotivated by revenge on my part in any way whatsoever." Officer Rob O'Copp
We are looking for members of the public who would like to be interviewed anonymously or wearing a disguise for our video archive. If you are interested in contributing, or for more information please contact:
Officer Rob O'Copp at The Office of Community Sousveillance
CCTV Treasure Hunt
To participate
1. Use your camera phone (or other available photographic-device), to capture a shot of any CCTV cameras you spot around town - remember to protect your own anonymity…
2. Make a note of the CCTV cameras location - the more detail the better! For example: ‘Corner of X and Y Street, Random Town, UK‘ or ‘Street Number, Street Name, Random Town, UK’ is better than ‘Random Town‘. A postcode is also helpful if known…
3. Send your picture plus the details of the cameras location via MMS or Email to: iseecctv@googlemail.com
4. Your photo will then be added to the map on the home page, as well as the gallery. You will remain anonymous at all times!
Keep snapping and send in as many pictures as you wish, bearing in mind that it may take some time for them to upload….!
also…keep an eye out for games being organised in a town near you, bring your friends and get involved in the team spirit!
Notts IMC + The Office of Community Sousveillance