Are law enforcement cameras an invasion of privacy Essay

Are law enforcement cameras an invasion of privacy - Essay Example I think that these concerns are valid because the installation of law enforcement cameras has led to the loss of personal privacy as the citizens are constantly watched by other individuals. Some people also believe that the law enforcement cameras do not discourage criminal activities since they act as informants or reporters of an ongoing crime (Richards 42). This paper will illustrate why law enforcement cameras should not be used as they infringe on individuals’ privacy. Firstly, the privacy laws that have been set in the United Kingdom are ambiguous and they cannot be used to protect the citizens against the infringement of certain privacy laws (Raab and Goold 1). This is because the privacy laws allow for the installation of law enforcement cameras in every public place without the consideration of an individual’s privacy. David Barrett, a home affairs correspondent for the Telegraph states that: â€Å"An estimated six million closed-circuit television cameras are in Britain, with seven hundred and fifty thousand cameras overlooking ‘sensitive locations’ for example, care homes, hospitals, and schools† (Barrett). Barrett continues to state that there is a law enforcement camera for every eleven people in Britain. This clearly shows that the citizens are being observed. People are afraid of their privacy since the government can observe everything that they do in the public areas. Some people are afraid of taking walks in the parks as they figure out that there can be a hidden camera being used by another person to observe them. Many people cannot enjoy their alone time as they feel that they are being watched (Raab and Goold 4). These illustrations demonstrate some of the effects that law enforcement cameras have on people and the different concerns about their right to privacy. Law enforcement cameras put unnecessary fear in