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police spy sats

Use spy satellite technology to solve crimes
 
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Why don't we use spy satellite technology to detect crimes? These days it's possible to watch large area's of citys in great detail from space and to record this information for months or years,

why dont we setup crime centres with clever software to watch for tell tale signs (eg robberies) and then use this technology to video & prosecute criminals.

Lunartick, Apr 07 2003

Newham http://www.spy.org.uk/newham.htm
One of the most heavily-watched urban areas in the world. CCTV cameras, with face recognition, have successfully lowered crime, or perhaps just moved it to surrounding areas. [hippo, Oct 04 2004, last modified Oct 21 2004]

Newham http://www.guardian...273,4432506,00.html
Oh yes - and the face recognition technology doesn't work... [hippo, Oct 04 2004, last modified Oct 21 2004]

Space Imaging, Inc. http://www.spaceimaging.com/
One commercial photo provider [krelnik, Oct 04 2004, last modified Oct 21 2004]

Many other companies here... http://directory.go..._and_Services/?il=1
[krelnik, Oct 04 2004]

[link]






       Many crimes are commited indoors - also, many cars don't have their number plates on their roofs.

(sp. "areas", "cities")

...and, [UB] reminds me, the whole of the EU is satellite-monitored and the areas of different crops grown by individual farmers grown throughout Europe is measured to a high degree of accuracy to ensure they're growing what they're reporting to the CAP (Common Agricultural Policy) that they're growing.
hippo, Apr 07 2003
  

       Holy Big Brother - I don't like this at all! Who wants government satellites spying on them?   

       Being made to give up personal liberties in the name of "security" is a hallmark of fascism.
snarfyguy, Apr 07 2003
  

       Assuming you wanted to do this, the police can just buy the photos from various commercial satellite photo providers just like anyone else, no need to have their own satellites. See links. Like the others, I'm doubtful it would be all that useful.
krelnik, Apr 07 2003
  

       Police Spy Bats - there's an idea. The long wing of the law.   

       (Later: cos I feel too ashamed of this pun to bring the idea back to the top)
:[UB]:With my idea it would be Homeland Security and Batriot(ism)
Jinbish, Apr 07 2003
  

       Being that CCTV footage is not, of itself enough to convict* I doubt very much that indiscriminate spying by satellite will have any major impact on conviction rates, unless it was allied with a Bobby on every corner, which would make the satellites redundant.   

       * In my jurisdiction, corroboration of identification is required. Don't know about anywhere else.
my face your, Apr 07 2003
  

       You'd need geosynchronous satellites over every city to maintain a constant vigil. Even so, they fly so high that there optical resolution isn't too good. The much lower satellites with resolution good enough to do what you propose would only be available for a minute or two for every orbit. Pretty choppy.   

       I think it won't be too terribly long before we have 24x7 drones aloft over most metro areas.
bristolz, Apr 07 2003
  

       This is half-baked in literature. In Virtual Light by William Gibson, LA police have their own Satellite to monitor citizens and coordinate all forces.
Trodden, Apr 11 2003
  

       <rant>As though we don't already have enough Big Brothers.</rant>
galukalock, Apr 11 2003
  

       this is a brilliant idea that i have been pondering for a while . any one against must be a pesimist or liberal.
northstar, Jan 07 2004
  

       Or someone that thinks practically. Or someone that has a conscience. The list could go on ...
Letsbuildafort, Jan 07 2004
  

       Im not nessasalary saying i trust my goverment completely, but if controlled this idea could probobly balance are budget. Think about it no more jails. Less lawyers cause not as much crime. safer people in our urban communities means more productive people etc. You cant cant just disregard an idea because your afrid of the potential downfall. What kind of life is that.
northstar, Jan 07 2004
  

       I understand its not practical now , but where does the concious come into to play putting some murderer away for killing some kid?
northstar, Jan 07 2004
  

       Conscience normally comes in before something adverse to one's morals comes into play ... but that doesn't stand for everyone. I just can't take stock in things that attempt to vastly change the things that we all have come accustomed to that try to make the world PERFECT. Wether it works or not, its interesting to think about ... past that, however, I don't think I'm going to jump on your bandwagon ...
Letsbuildafort, Jan 07 2004
  
      
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