'In the London of 2003, security cameras have become omnipresent. The UK is thought to be one of the most surveilled countries in the world. The same is true in most urban areas: the Home Office has part-funded 684 schemes for cities and towns since 1999, involving anything from half a dozen to hundreds of cameras. Office buildings, retailers and other arms of the state have installed many thousands more. The total is likely to be hundreds of thousands.' link