Rand Hobart's Random Homilies

Not usually a Torygraph reader but; Michael Deacon had a decent piece yesterday with some pertinent observations (no pun intended).

The surveillance state turned a blind eye on Ian Tomlinson

Why has no official footage emerged of Ian Tomlinson’s last moments, when we live surrounded by CCTV cameras, asks Michael Deacon.

The two big stories about the police in recent days have been a reminder of how nonsensical are our laws on public surveillance. In Britain today, there’s scarcely a wall unencumbered by a CCTV camera, spying on our doings and thus helping us feel safe (if the knowledge that your every action is being watched and recorded does indeed help you feel safe, rather than itchily paranoid). And yet, when a policeman at the G20 protests apparently attacked a man  who was merely trying to walk home, no CCTV footage of the alleged assault was forthcoming.

CCTV, it was reported, showed Ian Tomlinson walking in the direction of the police before the incident. CCTV also showed him walking away from the scene afterwards. Curiously, though, we never heard of any CCTV footage showing the alleged assault take place. We saw what really happened only because a bystander captured it on video. Continue reading this item…