Reclaiming the Streets, Surveillance, Social Control, and the City.

Vol. 15 No.4 (April 2005), pp.277-278

RECLAIMING THE STREETS, SURVEILLANCE, SOCIAL CONTROL, AND THE CITY, by Roy Coleman. Cullompton, UK: Willan Publishing, 2004. 256pp. Hardback. £30.00 / $55.00. ISBN: 1-84392-077-8.

Reviewed by Kimberly A. McCabe, Department of Sociology, Lynchburg College.

Email: mccabe@lynchburg.edu

Since the first use of closed circuit television (CCTV) as surveillance equipment to aid law enforcement in crime control, little empirical evidence has been produced regarding its effectiveness. In fact, most of the writings on CCTV since its introduction in the 1990s have simply consisted of discussions of its utility or possible conflicts with individual privacy rights. Roy Coleman’s RECLAIMING THE STREETS not only examines the use of CCTV in a city (Liverpool) to maintain order but also addresses the political processes shaping its deployment in the United Kingdom (UK) and throughout the world. Coleman addresses the day-to-day activities as well as the philosophies behind the use of CCTV.

Chapter One introduces the book with a general overview of the following chapters and a prelude that discusses the need for this text. Chapter Two provides an in-depth discussion on the concept of social control and the issues surrounding it, including a discussion of the history of the state’s influences. Philosophers such as Foucault are referenced in considering localized public and private organizations to explain the need for an increase in social control. Included in this chapter are a history and a unified foundation that serves as a basis for the perceived need of control by the state and the citizenry’s willingness to relinquish some of their freedoms for the general ‘good.’

Chapter Three presents several ideologies regarding social solidarity, control of individuals by social norms, and members of society who support those norms. Coleman also addresses the assumption that the importance of the state (inferred as law enforcement) is declining. Chapter Four documents the process of planning city development, and the often-conflicting goals of providing public space and minimizing risk to personal security. Chapter Five presents an overview of social control and governance in Liverpool during the 19th and 20th centuries and a discussion of how Liverpool developed a reputation as a problem city. Indeed, Liverpool faces serious problems associated with street disorder and suffers the presence of “unruly” groups in the city’s center; however, hard-line policing is not a desired response. Thus, Coleman provides the foundation of information on the city prior to the introduction and utilization of a CCTV network.

Chapter Six discusses the development of early control measures in Liverpool and reinforces themes from earlier chapters. In Chapter Seven, Coleman recounts the introduction of CCTV as merely a part of crime prevention technology. City leaders soon deployed a camera network in Liverpool with the [*278] overall goals of “cleaning the streets” and establishing “urban pride”—i.e., to reinforce the positive social relationships among the citizens. The “success” of CCTV is also apparent in this chapter.

In the final chapter, Coleman concludes with a discussion of the relationship between surveillance, law enforcement and social order. CCTV is apparently now viewed by law enforcement as an important component in their strategy of crime and social control, and its perceived value is increasing throughout the United Kingdom.

Coleman provides an excellent discussion of surveillance and social control theory and how CCTV operates. He considers the practical need for CCTV and justifies its use in terms of social solidarity. Coleman has attempted to address both academics and practitioners. Unfortunately, he may have produced a book that is of limited benefit to both audiences. Specifically, the first few chapters are so heavily theoretical that practitioners will probably not choose Coleman’s text as a reference. Chapters Five and Six, which consider the utility of CCTV, were probably the most important; however Coleman fails to highlight these chapters in the overall presentation.

In summary, it is this reviewer’s fear that this text, which is thoughtful and informative, may not reach its intended audiences. Coleman provides a wonderful narrative on the use of CCTV and the issues surrounding its utility; however, the presentation of the material is at times rather dense.

Those interested in the issues of CCTV and social control might find recent books by Norris, Morran, and Armstrong (1998) and Tombs and Whyte (2003) to be more accessible.

REFERENCES:

Norris, Clive, Jade Moran, and Gary Armstrong (eds). 1998. SURVEILLANCE, CLOSED CIRCUIT TELEVISION AND SOCIAL CONTROL. Brookfield, VT: Ashgate Publishing Co.

Tombs, Steven, and Dave Whyte (eds). 2003. UNMASKING THE CRIMES OF THE POWERFUL: SCRUTINISING STATES AND CORPORATIONS. New York: Peter Lang.

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