Worksheet Week 7: CCTV

Fill in the blanks with the following words: An example of how talking cameras work
Bench- bin – box- can

Choose the right answer

1. If you “are heading across the pond”, it means: c) 70

a) If you are crossing the Atlantic 5. Which one is not mentioned: CCTVs can be
b) If you are going to swimming pool found
c) If you are going to Middlesbrough a) On policemen
2. If you give someone a scolding: b) In bins
a) You give them friendly advice c) In cars
b) You speak angrily to someone because d) In buses
they have done something wrong 6. According to Simon Davis this evolution
c) You congratulate someone amounts to
3. Another satirical name for a CCTV camera is a) Physical welfare
a) Scanning camera b) Psychological warfare
b) Candid camera c) Physical warfare
c) Scolding camera d) Psychological welfare
4. In Middlesborough, they have equipped _____ 7. The reporter ends with a reference to
CCTV cameras with speakerphones: a) Reality TV
a) 7 b) The book 1984
b) 17 c) Family ties

Right or Wrong? Justify with a quote.

In some parts of England you can be watched more than 3,000 times a day R/W
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Most people refuse to comply with the given order R/W
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Middlesbrough Mayor used to work for a security agency R/W
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Middlesbrough Mayor thinks terrorism is what matters most to his electors R/W
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Talking CCTVs are only used to prevent littering. R/W
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Everyone supports the scheme R/W
_____________________________________________________________________________________

Fill in the blanks

It was sold on the ________ principally of being to deal with terrorism, to deal with serious ____________,
to deal with big crimes. It was not sold on the issue of dealing with dog-fouling or __________ or, indeed,
where people took their children to school, or what they put in their ___________ , it was sold on a much
grander issue; Of course people are generally ____________ with using surveillance against the Mr Big,
against the drug barons and so on. They are a lot less comfortable when they used against them for what
they consider to be _________ infringements. But there are now ___________ surveillances every week
approved by local government, often at a very low ___________. It‟s not properly scrutinized. There is of
course a control _____________, but it‟s not a very tight one and that‟s why Simon Milton, quite properly,
has written out to all the heads of local ______________, saying we should bring this under review, we
don‟t want this policy to come into ___________, as indeed I don‟t. But it‟s notable, isn‟t it, that one week
after I __________ on issues like these, including this, that we see this response. A fair list, if nothing else-
we‟ve had that good effect. The review is very ___________, I am very pleased that Simon Milton has put it
in progress because it will come out the review and we‟ll see that there will be a very explicit set of
decisions as to what can and can‟t be done. That will be a good ____________.

Pair Work

What came to your mind when you first
heard the word CCTV?
Did you know talking CCTV existed?
Develop.
Would you like to see CCTV in all areas of
public life? Develop.
What would you do if you were told to put
your littering the bin by a CCTV camera?
How do you think people in your country
would react to such a scheme?
Do you think CCTVs are a good idea?
David Davis argued that people are OK with
CCTVs if they are there to fight against big
issues such as terrorism but not for petty
crime. Comment.
Do you think CCTVs reduce your privacy
and freedom?
What about now?
Are CCTVs much used in your country?
Develop.
Do you think CCTVs are a good tool to find
against littering?
Is littering an issue in your country?
Can you think of other ways to fight against
littering? Or other petty crimes?
The former Home secretary described the
scheme as "an example of how Labour
listens to the concerns of ordinary people to
make life better for all." Comment.
Do you think CCTVs could stop terrorists?
Do you think CCTVs are useful to
discourage general crime?

Do you think CCTVs increase fear or
confidence?
A government official argued that the move
would save money spent by councils picking
up litter: “Half a billion pounds a year is
Some say CCTVs are a waste of money:
"Surely this money would be better spent on
a proven crime deterrent such as more police
officers on our streets rather than a gimmick
like talking cameras?”. Do you agree?
Think of other ways we are being watched.
 spent picking up litter”

Vocabulary to be used in your pair work

□ Actually □ Fines □ Naming and shaming □ To be taken aback

□ Bin □ Furthermore □ Outrageous □ To monitor
□ Brawls □ In other words □ Pedestrians □ To pick up
□ Commanding voice □ Infringement □ Petty crimes □ To some extent
□ Comply □ Intrusive □ Phone tapping □ Unfortunately
□ Costly □ litterbugs □ Privacy □ Warning
□ Deterrent □ Loudspeaker □ Scold □ Widespread
□ Evidence □ Mistrust □ Sheepish □ Yobs
Fill in the blanks using the adequate preposition:
Through/about/off/to
The journalist watched as a cyclist riding ________ a pedestrian area was ordered to stop. “Would the young
man on the bike please get_________ and walk as he is riding in a pedestrian area”, came the command.
The surprised young man stopped, and looked ________. A look of horror spread across his face as he
realized the voice was referring ________ him.

Complete the sentences using the verb in brackets and adding the relevant prepositions:
I borrowed a bicycle and (take) __________a ride _____ a pedestrian street. Suddenly a voice (ring)
_________ ____ above me. People standing around (laugh) _________ _____ me. The voice basically
shamed me into (get)___________ ____ my bike.

Oy! Big Brother is talking to you

Times
Will Iredale
WALKING down the main street in the centre of Middlesbrough last Thursday morning, two teenage girls
began ripping paper from a magazine and tossing it in the air with gay abandon. They attracted little
attention from pedestrians and shoppers. But somebody in a control room across town was watching them.
“You two girls have been witnessed on CCTV camera dropping litter. Pick it up and put it in the bin
provided,” boomed a bossy Scottish voice from a nearby loudspeaker. The shocked girls looked up at the
camera high on a pole and quickly did as they had been ordered, before running off.
Such embarrassing warnings may soon become familiar in town centres. Later this month the Home Office
is expected to announce a nationwide scheme to introduce “talking CCTV”. They warn yobs and litterbugs
they will be punished if they do not stop misbehaving. Those who disobey face arrest and fines.
The nationwide scheme follows the success of the trials in Middlesbrough, whose elected mayor is Ray
Mallon, the former senior police officer who was dubbed Robocop. Similar cameras will now be set up in
towns and cities including Glasgow, Gloucester and Redditch in Worcestershire. The government has given
Plymouth £20,000 to finance four cameras in the city centre.
The scheme has its critics, who believe it is a further step down the road to Britain becoming a “surveillance
society”.
In Middlesbrough, the control room operators are given strict guidelines about what comments they can
make. Jack Bonner, the system‟s manager, sits in front of a bank of 24 screens. He said: “If someone drops
litter, then you might say, „The gentleman in the dark-coloured suit, you are on CCTV and have been
witnessed dropping litter. Kindly pick it up and put it in the bin provided to your left‟; 98% of the time they
look up at the camera in shock and do as you say.” If they fail to comply, they are warned again. “The first
is a request. Then the tone of voice changes and we make it a command,” said Bonner.
If they are still disobedient, they face further humiliation: a picture “grab” from the CCTV footage may be
printed in the local newspaper. If identified, litterbugs can then be fined by the council environment officer.
Drunks and vandals are given a first warning before a “command” is issued saying the police are on their
way. A number of arrests have been made in this way.
The scheme is being financed by a Home Office section run by Louise Casey, the government‟s “co-
ordinator for respect”. Casey visited Middlesbrough in November to see the cameras working and also tried
the system for herself. Since the trial began, speakers on seven cameras in Middlesbrough town centre have
been “voice-activated” 156 times. The project initially cost £39,000 to set up. An extra £20,000 from
Casey‟s taskforce will pay for 10 more cameras to be installed this month.
Doug Jewell, campaigns co-ordinator of Liberty, warned: “This latest high-tech toy gives camera operators
massive powers to invade the lives of ordinary people. Anyone intent on committing a crime will merely
move on and do it elsewhere.”
Additional reporting: Graham Hind
Crosswords

Across Down
2. slightly embarrassed 1. the state of not being trusted or respected
4. describes something that will probably happen or is 3. which seems to have authority and therefore
expected demands your attention
6. a noisy, rough, uncontrolled fight 5. involved in things which should be private
8. the activity of fighting a war 7. correctly, or in a satisfactory way
10. controlled and obeying all rules completely 9. to cause someone to do or not to do something by
11. an area of water smaller than a lake, often making them feel ashamed
artificially made 12. waste material or unwanted or worthless things
13. anxiety
14. to speak angrily to someone because they have
done something wrong