Everybody in a shopping centre comes under the view of the cameras
(Cochrane, Chapter 1, DD208, 2008)
CCTV is used in shopping centers to monitor the behavior of people and detect crime. This by some is viewed as an acceptable and discreet process and makes people feel protected and safe. An example of this is a mall walker in The White Rose Shopping Centre:
“The staff and security people are all so friendly and we do feel safe because of that.”
(DVD, Chapter 1, DD208, 2008)
However there are tensions around surveillance. This tension is especially felt between the public who want to feel safe while they shop and the groups who feel targeted and stereotyped. Maybe surveillance is sometimes viewed as judging a book by its cover. This seems to be a feeling amongst some of the young people who use the shopping centre. An example would be the views of a young girl who uses the centre:
“They don’t make you feel very welcome because they just single you out just because you’re young and it’s not fair” (DVD 1, Chapter 1, DD208, 2008)
Depending on whom you are affects the way in which you are perceived through the eyes of surveillance. It seems that the ‘Young people groups’ are a key group to be monitored. It could be argued that it is not fair to monitor certain groups more than others.
Other aspects of surveillance are welfare and care aspects. Children are classed as one of our most vulnerable groups in today’s society. It is a natural thing for people to want to ensure the safety and wellbeing of children and something that everyone is seen as responsible for. Surveillance plays a huge role in achieving this but it can be argued that it could be more about control than care:
So is surveillance in this context social care or social control or a complex combination of both? (Commentary, Chapter 2, DD208, 2008)
A good example of this is the Baby Café (DVD 1 Chapter 2, DD208, 2008). The Baby Café is a group supporting women who breastfeed within the community of Camden, London.
“It is also to provide a group where mothers can get out the house, come along and can have some time out with other mums” (Wright, Chapter 2, DD208, 2008)
In the footage are some parents attending the Baby Cafe who have the same view on this kind of surveillance. They see it as support for them and their family and feel totally at ease because it is informal. Others might look on it as a way to check up on them and ensuring they are parenting in the correct way. The other argument could be that it is simply both supporting parents and protecting children
To conclude there are advantages but also disadvantages of surveillance. Surveillance is important to prevent crime and make people feel safe, on the other hand people may feel they are being constantly watched and controlled. Surveillance is of high importance in society for social control to be maintained but it may not be the main ingredient.
Word count- 695
References
The Open University (2008) DVD 1, Chapter 1, ‘Introducing surveillance’, DD208 Welfare, crime and society, Milton Keynes, The Open University.
Cochrane, A (2008) DVD 1, Chapter 1, ‘Introducing surveillance’, DD208 Welfare, crime and society, Milton Keynes, The Open University.
The Open University (2008) DVD 1, Chapter 2, ‘Safeguarding children’, DD208 Welfare, crime and society, Milton Keynes, The Open University.
Wright, H (2008) DVD 1, Chapter 2, ‘Safeguarding children’, DD208 Welfare, crime and society, Milton Keynes, The Open University.
