A concentration camp in the Middle East? The Russian gulag? An American High Security Prison?

Nope, this is the 17.5 Kilometre ring fence, topped with 5,000 volt electrified wire and 900 CCTV cameras that the government feels is necessary to counter the threat of ‘hostile individuals’ attempting to get into one particular district of London.

Other security measures to be implemented […] will include facial and iris recognition, finger-print and hand recognition, guards with attack dogs and search dogs. New software is planned to integrate all of London’s CCTV cameras, and will have the capability to follow you through the city.

A scheme to search people and vehicles will include machines capable of looking through your clothing. The Air Force will deploy its Reaper pilot-less drone aircraft, which will carry laser-guided bombs and missiles including the Hellfire air-to-ground weapon. While on the Thames, the Royal Navy will deploy its new £1 billion Daring class Type 45 destroyer. These are also to be fitted with laser-guided missile systems able to shoot down a target the size of a cricket ball.

Have you guessed yet? Yes, it is that area of London to be devoted to the Olympian ideal of fair play, respect for your fellow man, multi-cultural peace – and governmental paranoia.

I give you the site of the 2012 Olympics, as photographed by Mike Wells. Well worth following that link and reading the entire article.

Scary.

UK thought police and the 2012 Paranoympics. « The Waspsnest

May 1, 2010 at 20:16

Tweets that mention The world we live in today. — Topsy.com

May 2, 2010 at 00:20

1
Macheath May 1, 2010 at 13:11

laser-guided missile systems able to shoot down a target the size of a cricket ball

That should liven up the shot-put no end.

2
JuliaM May 1, 2010 at 13:25

As it’s in Stratford, there will be a new shooting event – the Drive By…

3
Joe Public May 1, 2010 at 14:14

Presumably us humans can depend upon Dr Brett Mills of UEA to defend our right to privacy.

http://www.metro.co.uk/news/824046-wildlife-documentaries-breach-animals-privacy-rights

4
Alan May 1, 2010 at 15:10

“Other security measures to be implemented […] will include facial and iris recognition, finger-print and hand recognition, guards with attack dogs and search dogs. New software is planned to integrate all of London’s CCTV cameras, and will have the capability to follow you through the city.”

Will it be disbanded, undone, destroyed or done away with once the Olympics white elephant has been sent paching? I’ll not hold my breath.

5
Demetrius May 1, 2010 at 15:14

Told you so.

6
Joe Bratley May 1, 2010 at 15:47

All that for a load of DRUG fueled, over sponsered !!.

7
Ed P May 1, 2010 at 16:18

I wonder what would happen if a child’s shiny helium balloon (with its electrically-conductive aluminium coating), should chance to touch the wires?
Or perhaps there could be a new drive-by game in Stratford: how many cameras can you hit?

8
Bayard May 1, 2010 at 16:35

Simply answer: don’t go.

9
bofl May 1, 2010 at 18:07

the olympics are an old style attempt to portray the uk as some marvellous island where we all live in splendour and harmony!

dont worry………we are bankrupt and the shit hasnt even started yet……

how many millions will it cost to buy each uk medal???????

10
Chuckles May 1, 2010 at 18:19

It seems a shame to intrude on the privacy of the place.

11
Elephant never forgets May 1, 2010 at 18:59

…. and how much equipment or installation was a result of British jobs for British people I wonder?

12
Ancient and Tattered Airman May 1, 2010 at 19:27

“laser-guided missile systems able to shoot down a target the size of a cricket ball”

Call me a gnarled old curmudgeon but that statement rings as true as Yvette Coopers married name. Back in my flying days we were briefed not to approach a certain area on Larkhill ranges. I noticed barrage balloons and assumed they were to deter civilian aircraft from entering the danger zone. I was wrong as in the mess after dinner there were a number of strangers and in conversation they told me the balloons were supposed to be the targets! When asked how many had been hit by the prototype missiles I was astounded to hear that they had achieved no hits. I demanded to know why, and was shamefacedly told the wind was to blame as the (tethered) balloons had moved. I know things have improved since then but in my military experience (up to 1980) they were less than accurate or reliable.

13
ivan May 1, 2010 at 21:48

So that is where the labour government are going to put all the intellectuals and free thinkers if they get back in power after the election. I’m trying to remember the title of the SF novel with that as its theme.

14
JuliaM May 2, 2010 at 06:11

“So that is where the labour government are going to put all the intellectuals and free thinkers if they get back in power after the election.”

Given the way the last few decades have been dedicated to breeding out or driving out intellectuals and free thinkers, I doubt they’d have needed to build it so large, if that were the plan…

15
2Mac May 2, 2010 at 13:19

In the ZaNu Labour Socialist Utopia all the population are equal.

Equally detested by the government
Equally under suspicion
Equally observered & monitored Electronically and Physically
Equally sharing the £1 Trillion debt labour has bestowed on us
Equally expected to pay for the a state system that fails is all Equally

But thankfully we can Equally vote to get rid of the Scum that is ZaNu Labour and confine them to the wastes of history and become the Scum tha WAS ZaNu Labour.

Vote: Anybody But Labour. It could not get any worse!

16
Delphius May 2, 2010 at 19:26

hmm, military/security achitectural asthetic. Goes with the Saxon Armoured Personnel Carriers they’ve ordered to transport VIPs around.

Are they expecting us all to be a violent, rampaging mob then?

Could be a self-fulfilling prophecy if they keep on squandering our money like this.