Uttlesford District Council in Essex has passed a policy permitting the installation of CCTV security cameras capable of recording sound. The use of such cameras would be limited to council-owned or managed residential buildings, gardens, offices, and vehicles as part of the council's efforts to address anti-social behaviour and enhance security measures. While there are currently no concrete plans to implement these devices, the policy enables the council to do so in the future.
According to the council's updated CCTV policy, audio surveillance will not be utilised for general observation, and signs will be displayed to indicate when a sound recording is in progress, except in situations where covert operations are approved. As with video footage, recorded audio would be retained for 31 days unless required for an ongoing case related to anti-social behaviour.
Commenting on the news, a spokesperson for campaign group Big Brother Watch criticised the council, warning that it had voted to "bring Orwell's Big Brother to Essex". They went on to say, "Rather than make residents feel safer, this will make many feel like someone is looking over their shoulder. The council should do more to protect residents' right to privacy and rethink these intrusive plans."
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