Darren Choy (5) 1st Entry

I feel that our country should beef up its CCTV network in view of the economic downturn and the rise in the number of crimes. This is partly due to the fact that our country is lacking behind other countries such as the United Kingdom in surveillance. Even though Singapore is well-known for its low crime rate with the second-lowest homicide rate in the world, its surveillance network does not cover most of the country. We have to take note that 'Low Crime Doesn't Mean No Crime' and that surely, with a Big Brother network, it will be a strong deterrence for would-be criminals who would harm society. Singapore is a small island and it would not be costly to set-up surveillance cameras. Surveillance cameras have been known to be crucial in both deterring crimes and solving crimes. My only request is that the authorities make it clear where such cameras are so that it becomes clear to the public that it is for protecting the public's security and not for the police to observe the people and invade their privacy.

Our country has taken its toll from the economic downturn and with bad times means a desperate people. People are more likely to do increasingly selfish acts that they would not do in the past. Take for example, break-ins. Figures from the police show that residential break-ins have risen more than 10 per cent - from 93 to 105 cases - for the first three months of this year, compared to last year. Although one might argue that these may be affected by increase in video-game violence and other media influences, no one can dispute that the lack of security has caused the failure in deterring such acts. Singaporeans can be said to be getting more security-conscious or in a more negative sense, paranoid. After all, the security industry will be more than happy to cash-in on the increase in bargain for security products such as CCTV.

Singapore's population is increasing and with it, a struggle to get every citizen employed. In country's where the poverty rate is high, the crime rate is also high. The Big Brother problem may be more severe in Singapore than in other countries if we implement Britain's system. We have only 4 million citizens with 1 million of which are non-citizens. If the police were to track each and every one of us, we will be one of just a small number. London itself has 14 million inhabitants, thereby it is harder to keep an eye on every citizen. If Singapore were to enforce a Big Brother policy, our privacy will be strictly questioned. Sometimes it is hard to weigh privacy with security in a country which has been lauded for having the Internal Security Act when it is also being criticized as being a 'Disneyland with the Death Penalty'. The problem is on how much tax-payer money will go into setting up the CCTV network and when will it be ready.