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# Met's new surveillance technology trialled at Climate Camp
- URL: https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/mets-new-surveillance-technology-trialled-at-climate-camp/
- Published: 2009-08-27T00:08:44.000Z
- Updated: 2019-02-14T22:43:31.000Z
- Author: Guy Aitchison
- Tags: #en, #Migrated, #Import 2026-04-09 18:49

So, this year's Climate Camp is on Blackheath common in south-east London, the same common on which Wat Tyler gathered his army of poll tax rebels before [marching on London](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peasants'%5FRevolt?ref=opendemocracy.net) in 1381\. The police are apparently keeping a fairly low-key presence and letting the campers get on with it, though it remains to be seen how long this gentle "[community policing](https://www.opendemocracy.net/blog/ourkingdom-theme/guy-aitchison/2009/08/19/met-bids-to-charm-protesters-ahead-of-climate-camp)" approach lasts once property interests are threatened as part of the direct action that's being planned. As expected, the Met's surveillance units are a lurking presence. A [cherry picker](http://twitpic.com/fcujo?ref=opendemocracy.net) has been erected in the middle of the camp with spot lights and cameras mounted on it (follow the link for a picture) with the feed [apparently](http://twitter.com/davidchivall/status/3566776222?ref=opendemocracy.net) being monitored from nearby. In addition, FIT officers have a covert new piece of technology to aid them in their task of filming peaceful protesters, sorry, "[domestic extremists](http://www.netcu.org.uk/about/about.jsp?ref=opendemocracy.net)". Several of the officers, who usually wear high-vis jackets and carry cameras, had small badge-sized CCTV cameras attached to their jackets (see this pic by [Marc Valee](http://twitpic.com/fd7ff?ref=opendemocracy.net)). When I saw this I was going to make a sarcastic comment along the lines of "what kind of 'community' has this level of surveillance?" until I paused to think: in New Labour's Britain the answer is "Almost all of them!"