Big Brother is opening his arms

Oh boy - is this the end for freedom? Greater Manchester police are deploying mini Google Streetview cars, Smart Cars with CCTV masts on top.

The mast, which extends up to 12ft (3.6mtrs for the metrically minded) will be able to take footage of people doing things at junctions that they should not be - mobile phone usage being the prime aim but people eating at the wheel, lighting a cigarette, tuning the radio.....the list goes on, I wonder if chatting to a passenger is cause for a charge of driving with out due care and attention.

Yes, I know that all of these are distracting, my employer has decided that no mobile phones should be used when driving (even hands free) and I don't have a problem with that but putting out tiny cars with big masts strikes me as going a little to far.

Greater Manchester Police say that it will drive the number of accidents down. I wonder what the cost is, car + mast + camera + personnel (I wonder who will be driving, which of our "police" forces will have this responsibility).

I also wonder what the cost is - will the revenue in fines exceed the cost?

Time will tell but I wonder where this surveillance society will end.