Actually, Belly, the cameras were only one piece of the jigsaw that went towards stopping the Boston bombers.

Forensic identification of the materials used to make and transport the bombs aided police to zero in on them in the videos.

But it was only after their exposure to the pubic that the brothers embarked on the next deadly phase. They killed a policeman and only then were the police able to begin closing in.

It took most of the police manpower of the city and surrounds plus federal reinforcement, public assistance and more technology to actually catch the surviving member.

In fact, you'd be battling to find an example of a more intensive police operation than the one undertaken in this case.

Belly,
You may not be aware that it is illegal for anyone other than a police
officer or a person with whom you have had an accident to ask for your
driver's licence.
You may offer it, but they cannot ask for it.
This came about when the photo licence proposal came up and some
objected to it saying it was the Australia Card by stealth.

Hasbeen, the British police have their highway cars fitted with number
plate readers connected to the car rego computer and insurance computer.
They pull up unregistered and uninsured cars every time they go out.
I have been watching a program called the Interceptors on Foxtel and
they drive converted rally cars, such as Subaru Inprezors, Mitsubishi
Evos and an Audi (thats not right) all wheel drive.
Stolen cars also get detected.
They sit at the side of the road until one goes past.
They also have cameras on over passes on main roads.
They have a boot full of electronics and can track tracker equipped
stolen cars. Even cars owned by known criminals get flagged.

So it can be done and I am aware that police cars here are being
equipped but I don't know how fast.

Yes Bazz, read all that on those sites.

However it doesn't seem to be working. Perhaps the effort devoted to it is somewhat than that devoted to revenue raising.

in Perth a woman was caught red handed and by camera king hitting a copper. Her only excuse was being drunk. Pathetic judge gives her 8 months prison then some sleazy lawyer finds a loophole to get her released. What good is a camera and good police when you get a useless court system that refuses to make penalties fit crimes.

Dear Belly,

You wrote;

“csteetle we would not yet have caught the Boston bombers without these cameras.”

The bombers were not identified through the use of the cameras. This is why the police ultimately decided to release them since they had few leads. What they were attempting to do was to get the pair to act irrationally and therefore expose themselves to law enforcement. They took a calculated risk that resulted in an officer losing his life but who knows what other mayhem the two might have been capable of if not apprehended. However I repeat the point, they were not directly identified via the camera footage.

You also said;

“Given much thought to why any of us would not want to be filmed if we are not doing any thing wrong. And even more to why some do not want to see criminals caught.”

That is what the fearful trot out every time.

Let's explore the notion. Would you be happy to have your telephone permanently bugged 24 hours a day? No you say? Why would you be worried if you were “not doing anything wrong”? Don't you “want to see criminals caught”?

CCTV cameras are lazy law enforcement. They are little use in prevention but may assist in after the fact identification. That is all.

I don't want my phone bugged or my emails read without due cause and a warrant. Nor do I want my facial features scanned every time I walk down a public thoroughfare. I've read 1984 and I don't want that for my country nor should you.

I do want adequate policing and am happy to contribute to such with my taxes.

Finally Belly I felt we had done a pretty fair job at keeping each other at arms length. Then you drop the line “Ignore csteele, he/she has form for overlooking things like this.” I have just responded in kind.

Here is a thought. Why don't we shorten up the leashes again. I'm sure it will help with the digestion.

Bazz you are quite right, and I as hasbeen is, am quite aware of it.
But it seems most are using it, no matter what is law, to buy a mobile phone, get a wireless connection you must produce one.
Runner we usually disagree, some times I think just for the sake of it.
But you highlight a truth, mentioned here many times.
O sung wo could tell us about it, t6hose handing down justice are often not linked to reality.
Again I tell this story, *ignoring every sign, including speed reduction and warning traffic accident ahead*
An idiotic woman driver, very well off by the car she was in, rolled 3 times, nearly killing me two tow truck drivers and uniformed police, 3 meters of the road, retrieving a smashed car.
In court, her Lawyer, mentioned she was in a part of Ireland the Magistrate comes from, nothing else!
Charges dismissed!*revolting out come*
A thought, as we know most want the assurance surveillance cameras, then.
Why do we so often, let the minority rule?
One man, a single out of step with us and any future victim in Nowra has won, we have lost?