October 1998

Menwith Hill gets "lifetime" award (27 October 1998)

"BRADFORD COPS SUPPORT COMBAT-18" (22 October 1998)

New parking meters to pay for CCTV (12 October 1998)

27,500 new houses for Bradford's Greenbelt (1 October 1998)

Big Brother awards:

Menwith Hill gets "lifetime" award

. The first annual "Big Brother" awards were presented last night, with the US listening base at Menwith Hill, North Yorkshire, receiving a "lifetime" award for its contribution to the creation of a "big brother" society. Anti-Menwith Hill campaigner Lindis Percy received a "Winston" award.

Other awards went to Newham Council, for the introduction of "image recognition" capabilities to its CCTV systems, and the DTI for its efforts in blocking "encryption" capabilities. The young man who attempted to present that award was carried from the DTI office by 6 policemen.

The Brighton magazine SchNEWS also picked up a "Winston".

The awards were presented by comedian Mark Thomas. Next year it is expected that the awards will go international with 8 countries competing to host them.

The awards were hosted by Privacy International.

"BRADFORD COPS SUPPORT COMBAT-18"

So said the headlines in Bradford's local press. This was following allegations made by Bradford Racial Equality Council (BREC) to the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry that "victims of racial incidents dare not confide in the police because they fear officers sympathise with right wing groups like the BNP, NF or Combat 18". Despite their best efforts, the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry proved not to be the PR exercise the Police would have liked.

It is doubtful that this is what Jack Straw had in mind when he established the Inquiry to investigate the 'matters arising' from the racist murder of 18 year old Stephen Lawrence. Wednesday's public hearing in Bradford was part of a countrywide tour looking at how racially motivated incidents are tackled in different areas. The majority of the hearing seemed to be taken up by establishment organisations telling a former high court judge and his friends what a great job they are doing at challenging racism in their own organisation and in society at large.

(Full story)

New parking meters to pay for CCTV

Controversial plans to introduce parking meters covering 150 city centre sites, approved by the Council a fortnight ago, will be used to raise money to pay for new city centre spy cameras.

KDIS has established that most of the money from the meters will go towards the £300,000 expected cost of upgrading the city's CCTV cameras and building a new high-tech control room under City Hall.

The planned introduction of the meters has been condemned by local businesses and opposition councillors, who fear the charges will drive trade from the city centre. But the council is desperate to raise the money for its secretly planned new CCTV system, following the refusal by the West Yorkshire Police Authority to fund it last year.

The council has yet to undertake it's promised "comprehensive review" of the CCTV systems, due originally to be completed in April this year. But council leaders are keen to have the funding in place before the review - dubbed "a sham" by local libertarians - takes place.

At a meeting of the Councils Economic Strategy sub-committee on September 22nd, Labour councillors suggested that CCTV "improvements" should be included in the Councils Business Plan for the next year, as " a means of encouraging investment into the City Centre". It was up to Liberal councillor John Cole to raise questions about the proposed scheme.

Meanwhile, frightening developments in Surveillance technology across the country are raising widespread concerns about civil liberties.

Newham council are undertaking trials that will add automatic computerised "image recognition" capabilities to its extensive CCTV network. This will mean that the movements of "targetted" individuals will be able to be monitored automatically. (See accompanying article)

And the Home Office has embarked on a 5-year program to fit automatic "licence plate recognition" cameras at every main road junction in the land, linked to the Police National Computer. This will allow the automatic tracking of all "targetted" cars across the country. (See accompanying article)

The Police are anxious that much more public money is spent on new CCTV systems, before public opinion turns against them and "the bubble bursts". (see accompanying article)

Update (20 October):

Tory leader Margaret Eaton blasted Labours car parking plans at a full council meeting today. She said the cameras would end up filming a ghost town:

"Is this a price really worth paying in order to secure cash for additional CCTV cameras in the city centre and a new high tech control HQ? Extending camera coverage is not going to be our salvation."

27,500 new houses for Bradford's Greenbelt

50,000 new houses will be built on the green belt in West Yorkshire by the year 2016, a new report predicts.

20,000 will go up in areas to the south and east of Bradford and south Leeds, including Tong Cockersdale, the Bierley Valley and south of Wyke. A further 7,500 will go up around Menston, Baildon, Esholt and Greengates.

Another 150,000 new houses will be absorbed into existing committed areas and "brown field" sites throughout West Yorkshire.

The shock results were revealed in "The Baker Report" for the Yorkshire and Humberside Regional Planning conference, which sets out planning guidance for the region.

Bradford Council officers described the report as "causing great concern for the West Yorkshire area", but councillor Latif Darr for the controlling Labour group insisted that the report was just "a starting point" and not the basis for a final agreement.

But it seems unlikely that a final settlement will vary the reports conclusions much. Environmentalists have been warning of the devastating environmental consequences of such developments for some time.

The report also has alarming implications for traffic forecasts along the Aire and Wharfe valleys. The newly proposed Bingley "Relief Road" is set to increase traffic congestion at Saltaire, and further housing development as envisaged will exacerbate the problems. Tory councillor Anne Hawkesworth predicted that such development would see Silsden and Steeton merge into a single township.

See previous story

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