G20 = 3000 CCTV cameras
2nd April 2009
As the largest collection of world leaders descend on the capital this week for the G20 Summit, the biggest UK police operation for many years has gone into full swing. The Metropolitan Police has been joined by a number of other forces to mount a security operation like no other, to ensure Barack Obama’s first visit to the UK as President of the United States goes as smoothly as possible.
Therefore, thousands of CCTV cameras are being used across London to monitor all corners of the city. The information from the cameras is constantly being streamed into the Central Communications Command with over 100 officers keeping a close eye round the clock, led by tactical advisers and counter-terrorism staff.
Without digital technologies this huge police operation would not be possible. How else would every part of London be able to be viewed almost simultaneously? How would the police be able to communicate with each other, and colleagues from the Fire Service and Ambulance Service without technology? The Internet is also enabling the public to see behind the scenes, and view members of G20 meeting through You Tube and webcasts. Therefore, digital technologies and social networks are changing the way democratic events are promoted and understood.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown, President Obama and Sarkozy and their colleagues will be meeting at the Excel Centre in London’s Docklands for most of the day. Their main aim is to agree a global economic plan for economic recovery and reform. Let’s hope they achieve this, for everyone’s sake.
Nice level of information here. There is so much information around about this matter that from time to time you cannot see the wood for the trees but you have pitched this at absolutely the right level so that the lay person can understand – thank you!
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