"Mayor Robocop" puts loudspeakers on CCTV cameras

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Via Slashdot, the news that Ray Mallon, former police Superintendent in Middlesborough in the United Kingdom and now Mayor of that city, has introduced loudspeakers on seven city CCTV units to tell wrongdoers to stop littering, fighting or cycling through pedestrian zones. From the Daily Mail article:
The control room operators have been given strict guidelines about what commands they can give. Yelling 'Oi you, stop that', is not permitted.

Instead, their instructions make the following suggestions: 'Warning - you are being monitored by CCTV - Warning - you are in an alcohol-free zone, please refrain from drinking'; and Warning - your behaviour is being monitored by CCTV. It is being recorded and the police are attending.'

Mr Bonner said: 'We always make the requests polite, and if the offender obeys, the operator adds 'thank you'. We think that's a nice finishing touch.

Well, that's nice. I mean, "move along, citizen 599-011-334" would be just creepy, wouldn't it.

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