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NETHERLANDS: CCTV getting more and more "popular"

01 November 2000

In January 1999 the first CCTV-project in public places started in the Netherlands. Since then more than 30 cities have introduced CCTV, and at least the same number are planning to install cameras. There is hardly any discussion about privacy and "Big Brother". "Law and order" is a hot issue and politicians are afraid to speak out against so called "Measures to reduce Crime". Due to this and a lack legislation on surveillance cameras the various projects are changing rapidly. The first CCTV-project, in the city of Ede, started off under relatively strict conditions. There was no direct surveillance and tapes were only watched after an incident had taken place. Only the police were allowed to watch the tapes and which were only kept for 24 hours. Now the situation changed.
In Rotterdam, for example, a whole neighbourhood is being watched 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. In the Hague the "Red Light district" is being watched. There is a big increase in surveillance cameras in shopping-areas, football stadiums and even cemeteries. Tapes are being kept in some cities for 30 days, and the operators are more and more employees of private companies.
There is still no law controlling the use of surveillance cameras and there are no plans for one. In the meantime local authorities are virtually autonomous in deciding when, where and how many cameras to install.
The police have an interest in projects like "Mandrake", which are able to identify people by matching images with a criminal database. The Dutch Institute TNO is working on a system to detect aggression in a large crowds by using "smart cameras". With the encouragement of police forces and the lack of critical evaluation the Dutch landscape is set to become like the UK in a few years.

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