Terrorism, CCTV and the freedom bill 2011: Achieving compatibility with article 8 ECHR?

The perceived successes of CCTV in terms of prevention and detection of crime and terrorist activity provided further impetus to acquire and develop camera surveillance technology. This article argues that the increased use of such technology has inevitably changed the individual's relationship with the state as individuals are now subject to surveillance when they are in public spaces, travelling on public transport and within some business environments. Alongside these developments, the last decade has seen domestic recognition of the 'right to respect for private and family life' (Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights) after the coming into force of the Human Rights Act 1988 (HRA) in 2000, which received the Convention into domestic law. As the potential for intrusion into citizens' private life grows, it is possible, this article will argue, that the compatibility of visual surveillance under greatly increased CCTV infrastructure with Article 8 may be brought into question. The Coalition government has sought for the first time to address concerns about the erosion of privacy through excessive surveillance in Part 2, Chapter 4 of the Protection of Freedoms Bill 2011, which is currently in Report stage.