§ Mrs. Ann TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what evidence he has of the effectiveness of the use of video surveillance of the general public by the police; and what research is currently being carried out, or funded by, his Department in this area;
395W(2) how many police forces in England and Wales have set up video surveillance systems to watch the general public; and, of those who have not, how many plan to do so;
(3) what research is currently being conducted into the effectiveness of video surveillance of the general public by the police forces of England and Wales.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggHome Office advice to the police is that closed circuit television should be used only when necessary for the efficient conduct of police operations. The introduction of such surveillance systems is an operational matter for chief officers and there is no central record of their number. We have not conducted research into their effectiveness and have no plans to do so at present.